Thread by @TexasTribune

Breaking: The day after the Austin City Council approved a resolution to stop arresting or ticketing people for most low-level marijuana possession offenses, the police chief made clear he had no plans to do so. bit.ly/2TRpJON

2/ During a news conference, APD Chief Brian Manley said police will still issue tickets under the city's “cite-and-release” policy or arrest people.

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3/ But city council member @GregCasar told The Tribune that those actions will come with no penalty.

Tickets will be meaningless and any arrests will result in a quick release with no charges, he said.

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4/ The city council’s move comes after Texas lawmakers legalized hemp, which is cannabis containing less than 0.3% THC.

Now, many prosecutors won’t accept cases before expensive lab tests are conducted to determine THC levels.

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5/ The council’s resolution has also prohibited using city funds or personnel to conduct such testing in non-felony marijuana cases.

But, as the police chief notes, the resolution clarifies it can’t technically decriminalize marijuana.

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6/6/ The Austin police chief said he is planning to review the policy, but the police will continue to enforce the laws on the books.

“A City Council does not have the authority to tell a police department not to enforce a state law,” he said.

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