Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 2-25-20

Feature
Commissioners Vote To Decriminalize Marijuana
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Wednesday, the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to decriminalize possession of marijuana. Commissioner Les Miller, Jr., proposed the new law.
The vote means that if someone is caught with less than 20 grams of mari- juana, that person will receive a civil ci- tation instead of facing a criminal charge.
An individual can receive up to four civil citations before facing a criminal charge for possession of marijuana. After the third citation, the person is required to attend drug screening, an education, or treatment program.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said, “I commend and thank Commissioner Les Miller and all of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners who worked with us to create fair enforcement and less fi- nancially burdensome penalties in re-
LES MILLER, JR.
SHERIFF CHAD CHRONISTER
gards to marijuana possession.
“Having consistent enforcement all
throughout Hillsborough County is vital. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the city of Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City or in Unincorporated Hillsborough County, the same rules will now apply across the board.
“This ordinance allows our Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office to focus our resources on arresting and prosecuting violent offenders.”
Members of the Tampa City Council passed a similar ordinance in 2016.
Local Muslims Highlight Islam’s Contributions To Black History
Masjid An Nasr is hosting a Black His- tory Awards Banquet Friday, February 28, 2020. This event will take place at The Is- lamic Society of Tampa Bay, 7326 Sligh Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610.
The theme of this awards banquet is “Islam’s Contribution to Black History.” The reason for the event is to raise funds to complete the renovation of the Transi- tional House for Ex-Offenders.
“We currently have people enrolled in the program and we want to expand it. Our Mission is to be the outreach mosque in the areas of social services, health, and education, and self-development in one of the most impoverished parts of the Tampa Bay,” Brother Richard Muhammad stated. Our Vision is to promote Islam positively in accordance with the Qu'ran by enjoining the good forbidden the wrong.
“Our goal is to raise $50,000. The funds from this event will support our ef- forts in completing renovations for tran- sition housing for ex-offenders and our Mosque,” stated Brother Jarvis El- Amin.
Bro. Muhammad, Founder of Masjid-An Nasr’s and Bro. El-Amin, Co-Chair, Board of Directors, have de- cided to honor Community Leaders who have made a positive impact in our Com- munity. Among those who will be honored are: Sister Connie Burton, long-time Community Activist and Leader of the local Amendment Four Movement will be receiving The Marcus Garvey Liberation Award. Candy Lowe, Founder of the Black Business Bus Tour and the Vision- ary Leader of our Economic Empower- ment Movement, will be receiving the Madam C. J. Walker Economic Empow- erment Award. Brother Abdul-Malik Abdullah, a pioneer in the Muslim Com- munity, will be presented the Masjid An- Nasr Chairman’s Award for his outstanding support of the Mosque.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jarvis El-Amin by phone at, 813-787-6652, or by email at, sell- adt@aol.com. Tickets are $25.00. Click Eventbrite link https//islamicblackhisto- rybanquet.eventbrite.com. (See Ad in this issue)
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