September 10, 2020
Jason Karimi
Iowa Patients for Medical Marijuana
7688 NW 86th Avenue
Johnston, IA 50131
Playsoccer711@gmail.com
RE: Des Moines City Council Marijuana Task Force
Dear Mr. Karimi:
On September 16, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. the Des Moines City Council Marijuana Task Force will hold a Zoom meeting to receive public comments on recommendations intended to minimize criminal enforcement of possession of marijuana for personal use. As chair, I write to invite you to comment on the following policy proposals that have been submitted to the Task Force for consideration:
City Policy Recommendations:
Enact an ordinance or resolution declaring marijuana possession a low enforcement priority
Adopt a pre-arrest diversion policy
Survey city residents on enforcement priorities
Evaluate the economic impact of marijuana enforcement
Decriminalize or reduce penalties for personal use or production of marijuana
State Policy Recommendations:
Expungement of criminal records for non-violent marijuana convictions
Establish a marijuana enforcement task force
Provide immunity for police officers who use discretion in marijuana enforcement Relax regulation of hemp
Decriminalize or reduce penalties for personal use or production of marijuana
Police Practices Recommendations:
Adopt a policy that marijuana enforcement is the lowest priority
Eliminate the use of odor of marijuana as the basis for searches and seizures
Require written consent for vehicle searches that are not supported by probable cause
Collect and publish traffic stop data
Mandate the use of body cameras and car cameras in all police encounters Stop the use of pretextual traffic stops
Prohibit vehicle searches that are not supported by probable cause
You can register in advance for this meeting:
https://dmgov-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwtdeyvqz8oE9z7Zkrco-_HDutW65WZxKmG
Please follow the city of Des Moines meeting calendar for additional Task Force meeting times and agendas: https://www.dsm.city/MTF_meeting_schedule.php
In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, please email them to Alex Hassel with the City of Des Moines at at hassel dmgov.org, and she will forward them to my attention.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Gary Dickey
Chair, Marijuana Enforcement Task Force
MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE MEETING NOTICE
Iowa Code Section 21.4 requires that each Council meeting shall be held at a place reasonably accessible to the public and at a time reasonably convenient to the public, unless for good cause such a place or time is impossible or impracticable. Given Mayor Cownie’s March 17, 2020 Proclamation Amendment, as amended, prohibiting indoor gatherings of ten or more persons on public property and Section One of the Governor’s June 25, 2020 Proclamation strongly encouraging vulnerable Iowans to limit participation in gatherings of any size and any purpose during the COVID19 outbreak and further given Section One Twenty Three of the Governor’s June 25, 2020 Proclamation suspending the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code §§ 21.8, 26.12, and 414.12, or any other statute imposing a requirement to hold a public meeting or hearing, the City Council has determined that a meeting at a physical place is impossible or impracticable and all Council meetings for the time being will be conducted electronically with the public allowed to attend per the instructions on this agenda. Meeting minutes will continue to be provided per the City’s normal course of business.
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Start Time: 5:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Place: Register in advance for this meeting:
https://dmgov-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwtdeyvqz8oE9z7Zkrco-_HDutW65WZxKmG
Agenda:
Roll Call and Approval of Minutes (5 minutes)
Public Comment Period (estimated 45 minutes)
Members of the public are allowed to present for 3 minutes
Task Force members are allowed to follow with questioning for an additional 2 minutes
Task Force Member Discussion (10 minutes)
Adjourn Register in advance for this meeting:
https://dmgov-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwtdeyvqz8oE9z7Zkrco-_HDutW65WZxKmG
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting but would still like to provide public comment on recommendations intended to minimize criminal enforcement of possession of marijuana for personal use please send your comments to Alex Hassel at athassel@dmgov.org.
The Marijuana Enforcement Task Force invites the public to comment on the following policy proposals that have been submitted to the Task Force for consideration:
City Policy Recommendations:
Enact an ordinance or resolution declaring marijuana possession a low enforcement priority
Adopt a pre-arrest diversion policy
Survey city residents on enforcement priorities
Evaluate the economic impact of marijuana enforcement
Decriminalize or reduce penalties for personal use or production of marijuana
State Policy Recommendations:
Expungement of criminal records for non-violent marijuana convictions
Establish a marijuana enforcement task force
Provide immunity for police officers who use discretion in marijuana enforcement Relax regulation of hemp
Decriminalize or reduce penalties for personal use or production of marijuana
Police Practices Recommendations:
Adopt a policy that marijuana enforcement is the lowest priority
Eliminate the use of odor of marijuana as the basis for searches and seizures
Require written consent for vehicle searches that are not supported by probable cause
Collect and publish traffic stop data
Mandate the use of body cameras and car cameras in all police encounters Stop the use of pretextual traffic stops
Prohibit vehicle searches that are not supported by probable cause
Please follow the city of Des Moines meeting calendar for additional Task Force meeting times and agendas:
WeedPress: The Paper Trail 
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