Chris Breault promises to decriminalize marijuana if elected mayor

Chris Breault is making a campaign promise to decriminalize marijuana if elected mayor of Columbus. Breault made a lengthy post on Facebook explaining his rationale for decriminalizing the drug. He says the move would reduce criminal gang activity and take money out of gang members pockets among many other reasons.

The social media post calling for decriminalizing marijuana has since been deleted from his political page. Breault told Now Georgia Monday April 20, 2026 “My views and intentions on the issue of marijuana have not changed.”

Breault went a step further calling for the legalization of marijuana in a recent podcast with his opponent Mark LaJoye. “This is not a popular opinion, but I think that they should legalize marijuana. I think they should decriminalize it in the city of Columbus. I think that it should not be the basis of probable cause like when you get pulled over. I don’t think they should be able to search your car because of the quote what they say is the odor of marijuana. I don’t think they should be able to search your house,” the trial attorney said during the podcast.

“I believe that if you have a very small amount of marijuana and you’re not breaking any other laws, then you should get a $50 ticket. They do this in the City of Atlanta and many other cities,” Breault told Now Georgia.

Does the mayor of Columbus have the authority to make such a policy change? Breault conceded that he would need some help from council members. Breault said he would make the change in Columbus specifically by way of a city ordinance. “As mayor, I would submit an ordinance to the City Council to be voted on.”