The Lawrence City Commission will discuss Tuesday whether to lower fines for marijuana possession that are currently hundreds of dollars. Last month, Commissioners voiced support for a proposal to reduce fines to one dollar for first and second time convictions of possessing 32 grams of marijuana or less. Mayor Lisa Larsen says people of color are disproportionately arrested for marijuana possession and this is one way to create more equity in the criminal justice system. A 2013 report by the American Civil Liberties Union found that black residents in Kansas are over four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people, despite using marijuana at similar rates.
