Santa Fe officers to get refresher course on marijuana laws

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Santa Fe Police Department plans to give its officers a refresher course on a municipal law that makes possession of small amounts of marijuana the lowest law enforcement priority in the city. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports (http://bit.ly/2fUvqos) that the refresher is coming after City Councilor Joseph Maestas told police Chief Patrick Gallagher that officers should apply the ordinance over state law. In turn, Gallagher promised to provide his officers more training on marijuana laws. Enforcement of the ordinance has sparked controversy. In 2014, the City Council approved an ordinance that decriminalized possession of one ounce or less of marijuana, making it a civil infraction punishable by a $25 fine. But police have continued to cite people under the state criminal statute on marijuana, which carries stiffer penalties.