Concerned by pot fines, Rallings warns of 'hot pee-pee'

Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings warned citizens in the Riverview neighborhood Wednesday that using marijuana would result in a drug-positive test -- or, as he put it, "hot pee-pee" -- possibly making finding and holding down a job more difficult.

"Until there's a law that says businesses have to hire someone with some hot pee-pee -- you know, we've got some problems," Rallings said. "That's what it's all about. And if you have a hot drug test, meaning that your urine tests positive for marijuana, we call that 'hot pee-pee."

Rallings' use of the term "hot pee-pee" -- which Google defines as "a child's word for an act of urinating" -- got some laughs from the 35 or so people who attended the meeting at the Riverview Community Center. But the crowd got the point: An ordinance approved by the City Council a month ago could have downsides.

The ordinance allows officers to issue $50 civil fines for possession of a half-ounce or less of marijuana. Officers still have the option of charging someone under the state's criminal law, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

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Rallings, responding to criticism of the ordinance from Rep. Barbara Cooper and the crowd, said he "stood up and took the heat-rounds" in opposing the ordinance. But, he added, he applauds the goal of the seven council members who voted for the ordinance to reduce the number of African-Americans with criminal records for marijuana possession, and confirmed that he would enforce the new fines.