Mayor Ben Malik Pushes For Cocoa Beach To Decriminalize Marijuana, Debate Ensues Among Residents

By Danielle Lama, FOX 35 // February 22, 2019

Mayor: Do we really need to ruin somebody’s life over this? I don’t personally think so

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ABOVE VIDEO: An ordinance that would allow officers to issue civil citations instead of criminal charges in minor marijuana charges is moving forward in Cocoa Beach.

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA (FOX 35) – An ordinance that would allow officers to issue civil citations instead of criminal charges in minor marijuana charges is moving forward in Cocoa Beach.

It was proposed by Mayor Ben Malik.

“Things are changing and we either have to go along with or we have to get out of the way,” Malik said.

He says the plan would give police more discretion. It would apply to cases where a person has a small amount of marijuana or certain drug paraphernalia on them. Malik says that way, people wouldn’t have to deal with a criminal history and jail time.

“Do we really need to ruin somebody’s life over this? I don’t personally think so and I feel pretty strongly about it,” Malik said.

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