Rio’s Governor Wants to Arrest Anyone Smoking Marijuana on the Beach

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After a speech stating that the his government would start collecting street dwellers, governor Wilson Witzel again offered a creative solution to the stabbing case in Lagoa, which resulted in two deaths.

Standing side by side with mayor Marcelo Crivella, in the room where he met on Tuesday, July 30th, with other mayors from across the state, the governor made an announcement on the new directive that he intends to implement:

“And now, Mayor, I am going to arrest potheads on the beach. Whoever is smoking marijuana on the beach will be arrested.”

He will now need to assess how to deal with federal drug law 11.343/06. According to its Article 28, “those who purchase, store, hold, carry or bring with them, for personal use, illegal drugs or in violation of legal provisions, are only subject to three penalties: warning, community service or educational measure.”

The debate on drug decriminalization was scheduled for this month in the Federal Supreme Court (STF) but was adjourned sine die.