(KMOV.com) -- A long-time St. Louis police officer is working to reduce the penalty for those caught with marijuana.
Sergeant Gary Weigert, a 32-year- veteran of the St. Louis Police Department, says he has arrested hundreds of people for possessing weed, and would like to see the offense treated like a parking ticket.
The police department did allow Weigert to discuss this topic on camera. Outside of work, he is teaming up with a group called Show-Me Cannabis Regulation. Weigert spent Wednesday and Thursday in Jefferson City lobbying the legislature to change state law concerning marijuana.
"He felt it's been very successful. He talked to a number of representatives and not every single one of them are supportive, but a lot of them expressed support," said John Payne with Show-Me Cannabis Regulation. "A lot of them still have reservations though."
St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson released a statement saying Sergeant Wiegert is "not representing the department. His comments are his own, and is not what is expected of our officers."
