The Minneapolis Police Department has ordered its officers to discontinue sting operations that target “low-level” marijuana possession and sales.
According to a report by WCCO-TV, undercover officers have made more than 100 arrests — including 47 for felony sale of marijuana — so far in 2018.
Hennepin County public defender Mary Moriarty said that 46 of the 47 people charged with felonies were black, and that several were homeless.
“Approaching black men and women who are low income and homeless and then having the county attorney charge them with felony drug sales makes me very angry and disappointed,” Moriarty told the Star Tribune.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey Minneapolis directed Police Chief Medaria Arradondo to cease the undercover operations.
Mayor Frey has previously stated that he believes that marijuana should be “fully legalized at the state level.”
