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ON THE STEPS OF THE JUSTICE CENTER TODAY, PRESTON FIELDS RECALLED AN ENCOUNTER WITH POLICE IN CHEVIOT HE WISHES WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENE THEY SEARCHED US AND FOUND AN OUNCE ON ME, 23 GRAMS, AND THE IMMEDIATELY PUT ME IN CUFFS. TODD: FIELDS SAYS THE CASE AGAINST HIM LED TO A LONGER THAN EXPECTED STAY IN A HAMILTON COUNTY JAIL CELL. I SAT HERE FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND FINALLY GOT RELEAS ON AN O.R. BOND FOR A LATER COURT DATE. AND THEN THAT’S WHERE I GOT CHARGED WITH A MISDEMEANOR POSSESSION, WHICH ULTIMATELY SCREWED UP MY CHANCE TO GET JOB WITH THE U.S. POST OFFICE. TODD: FIELDS CONSIDERS HIMSELF ONE OF TOO MANY PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN UPENDED BY A MISDEMEANOR MARIJUANA CHARGE. >> IT CAN DEFINITELY MESS YOU UP IF IT’S TAKEN THE WRONG WAY IN THE COURTROOM. TODD: THAT’S WHY FIELDS APPLAUDS MARIJUANA REFORM LEGISLATION CRAFTED BY CINCINNATI VICE-MAYOR CHRIS SMITHERMAN AND COUNCILMAN JEFF PASTOR. TODAY, SMITHERMAN SAID THE CITY’S MANAGER AND TOP PROSECUTOR TOLD HIS OFFICE THAT ALL PROSECUTIONS/CHARGES OF 100 GRAMS OF MARIJUANA OR LESS IN THE CITY OF CINCINNATI WILL BE DISMISSED IMMEDIATELY. SMITHERMAN DIDN’T RESPOND TO MY REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW, BUT IN A STATEMENT HE CALLED THE MO REAL CALMNES -- REAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, ADDING IT WILL HELP RESIDENTS AVOID HAVING CRIMINAL RECORDS THAT UNNECESSARILY IMPEDE THEIR ABILITY TO GET A JOB. THOSE WORDS WERE GREETED ENTHUSIASTICALLY BY FIELDS AND OTHERS OUTSIDE THE JUSTICE CENTER. ALL IN ALL, I’D SAY IT’S A GOOD STEP FORWARD THAT WE’RE TAKING NOW >> I THINK IT ALL SHOULD BE DISMISSE YOU KNOW, HEY, EVERYBODY GOT TO BE FREE, SOMEDAY. TODD I SPOKE TO JEFF PASTOR BY PHONE AND HE SAID HE IS 1000% IN SUPPORT DROPPING MARIJUANA CHARGES. HE CALLED IT ONE TINY PART OF CORRECTING A HISTORICAL WRONG AND IS SENSIBLE POLIC

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On the steps of the Hamilton County Justice Center Monday, Preston Fields recalled an encounter with police in Cheviot that he wishes would have never happened."They searched us and found an ounce (of marijuana) on me," Fields said. "They immediately put me in cuffs."Fields said the case against him led to a longer than expected stay in a Hamilton County jail cell."I sat here (the Justice Center) for about two weeks and finally got released on an O.R. bond for a later court date. And then that's where I got charged with a misdemeanor possession, which ultimately screwed up my chance to get a job with the U.S. Post Office," Fields said.Fields considers himself one of too many people whose lives have been upended by a misdemeanor marijuana charge."It can definitely mess you up if it's taken the wrong way in the courtroom," he said.That's why Fields applauds marijuana reform legislation crafted by Cincinnati Vice-Mayor Chris Smitherman and Councilman Jeff Pastor.On Monday, Smitherman said the city's manager and top prosecutor told his office that "all prosecutions/charges of 100 grams of marijuana or less in the City of Cincinnati will be dismissed immediately."In a statement, Smitherman called the move "real criminal justice reform," adding it will help residents avoid "having criminal records that unnecessarily impede their ability to get a job." He also said he plans to move ahead with a charter amendment that would make the city take a proactive approach to expunging certain marijuana convictions.Those words were greeted enthusiastically by Fields and others outside the Justice Center."All in all, I'd say it's a good step forward that we're taking now," Fields said."I think it all should be dismissed," said Twanette Shannon of Avondale. "You know, hey, everybody got to be free, someday."Read more on what the ordinance means when it comes to law enforcement here.