Dear reader,
I founded LkldNow in 2015 with a vision to create a local news organization that serves the public and fosters community connections. What started as a one-man volunteer operation has slowly grown into a small but mighty newsroom and a primary source for local news. But LkldNow can continue only if you find value in our work and help support it. Every gift helps — especially right now! Thanks to our matching funds from local partners as well as the national NewsMatch program, every donation made between now and the end of the year will be doubled!
If you can, please help us sustain independent local journalism in Lakeland. Thank you!

Sincerely,
Barry Friedman

The topic was whether possession of small amounts of marijuana should be decriminalized. In the end, commissioners asked to hold a public forum to hear from experts. Here’s the discussion as it unfolded on social media.
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As long as it is illegal and you don’t treat it as such you are helping to empower illegal drug dealers. More will buy it if there is no consequence and dealers will become stronger. Wait for the law to change and leave everything as it is until it does.