Two Tennessee district attorneys endorse Issue 4, urge new approach to marijuana policy

Mulroy said the measure would allow law enforcement to focus on violent crime rather than marijuana, which he said is not a serious threat, according to the press release. 

“We need to stop wasting time prosecuting marijuana, which is no more dangerous than alcohol, and refocus on violent crime,” said Mulroy. “That’s true on both sides of the border, which people cross in both directions daily. This could also make things easier for persons with medical needs in West Tennessee, where medical marijuana remains illegal.”

Mulroy took office in August when he became the first Democrat to hold the position in decades. Mulroy told ABC24 news of Memphis when he took office that his goals included deprioritizing marijuana offenses and focusing on violent crime. 

“Deprioritize lesser offenses like marijuana prosecution and possession, being late on fines and fees, and focus like a laser beam on violent crime,” Mulroy said.

Agee, the district attorney for Crockett, Gibson and Haywood counties, said marijuana prohibition has failed, according to the press release from Responsible Growth. 

As Agee put it: “The people of Arkansas have an opportunity to right a wrong by voting to end marijuana prohibition which has been an utter failure for over fifty years in our country. Marijuana prohibition much like alcohol prohibition has destroyed lives and ripped families apart particularly in communities of color. It’s simply bad policy for our states and federal government to continue wasting taxpayer resources trying to defeat a plant. Common sense regulation works and prohibition doesn’t. Vote to legalize recreational marijuana in Arkansas.”

Agee called for the Tennessee legislature to legalize marijuana in an op-ed in the Knoxville News-Sentinel in 2015. 

Former Grant County Sheriff and co-chair of Responsible Growth Lance Huey praised the two Tennessee law enforcement officers for their support. 

“The opposition would like voters to believe that law enforcement is against reform and responsible adults use cannabis but the truth could not be more different,” Huey said in the press release. “Our leaders in law enforcement like District Attorney Mulroy and Agee are for job creation, new law enforcement funding, drug court funding, and cancer research funding.”

Here’s the full press release: 

Responsible Growth Arkansas (RGA) applauds Issue 4 support from Bi-Partisan Law Enforcement Group. 

This week several of Tennessee’s top ranking local law enforcement officials have issued a plea for their Natural State neighbors to vote YES on ballot Issue 4, also known as Arkansas Adult Use Cannabis Initiative. 

“The bipartisan public support for Issue 4 from Democrat Steve Mulroy, District Attorney for Shelby County on the Arkansas border, and Republican Frederick Agee, Operation Enduring Freedom veteran and District Attorney for the nearby 28th Judicial District (Crockett, Gibson, & Haywood Counties) is a testament to the benefits passage of issue 4 can bring to Arkansans and law enforcement. The opposition would like voters to believe that law enforcement is against reform and responsible adults use cannabis but the truth could not be more different. Our leaders in law enforcement like District Attorney Mulroy and Agee are for job creation, new law enforcement funding, drug court funding, and cancer research funding.” Said Lance Huey, Co Chairman of Responsible Growth Arkansas and former two time AR sheriff 

“We need to stop wasting time prosecuting marijuana, which is no more dangerous than alcohol, and refocus on violent crime,” said District Attorney Mulroy. “That’s true on both sides of the border, which people cross in both directions daily. This could also make things easier for persons with medical needs in West Tennessee, where medical marijuana remains illegal.” 

As District Attorney Agee puts it: “The people of Arkansas have an opportunity to right a wrong by voting to end marijuana prohibition which has been an utter failure for over fifty years in our country. Marijuana prohibition much like alcohol prohibition has destroyed lives and ripped families apart particularly in communities of color. It’s simply bad policy for our states and federal government to continue wasting taxpayer resources trying to defeat a plant. Common sense regulation works and prohibition doesn’t. Vote to legalize recreational marijuana in Arkansas.” 

Responsible Growth Arkansas encourages all Arkansans to make history in Arkansas! Vote FOR issue 4 on November 8th!