What happens when 70 people get arrested over an ounce of bud? When it happened in Barstow County during a New Years Eve party, it turned into a conversation about race and decriminalization.
On New Years Eve, a house party to celebrate someone’s 21st birthday turned into headlines. Cartersville police said officers responded to a call of apparent gunshots fired early Sunday morning. Somehow the search for gun shots turned into a raid on a party. That party had about 100 attendees at the time. Without a warrant, police entered the house after saying they smelled a strong scent of marijuana.
After detaining party goers until a warrant was obtained, the police ended up finding two stolen guns and an ounce of marijuana.
The ages of the people arrested range from 15 to 31. Some sat in jail for 3 days before they were able to obtain a bond.
Immediately the story became a national headline as the Georgia NACCP and other organizations got involved and called for action. One of those who called for action and played a key role in helping these 70 arrested receive is attorney Gerald Griggs.
Griggs, using his resources at the Georgia NAACP, was able to turn the story into a national story which resulted in charges being dropped for most of the 70.
The arrests on New Years Eve sparked a larger conversation in the state over the role race plays when it comes to arrests over cannabis possession, decriminalization of cannabis and police abusing their power.
Attorney Griggs spoke with us about the case and what’s going on as of now, as well his push to get people back to voting, bringing the NAACP into a new generation, issues within the Democratic party and more.
Watch the full interview below