IT IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION. >> THE DEPUTY HAS BEEN WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR 10 YEARS, HE IS HOME NOW AND DOING OKAY. >>> A TASK FORCE CREATED BY GOVERNOR COOPER IS SUPPORTING A PROPOSAL TO DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA. WE SPOKE WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH STEIN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY THIS ISSUE HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY FOR THE GROUP. >> Reporter: ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH STEIN IS A COCHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE FOR RACIAL EQUITY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. GOVERNOR COOPER SELECTED STEIN TO HIS POSITION. >> THE CHARGE TO US WAS TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO ROOT OUT DISPARITIES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. >> Reporter: ONE OF THE PRIMARY ISSUES THE TASK FORCE WILL PRESENT IN MID-DECEMBER IS THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF POSSESSION OF SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA. THAT MEANS, PEOPLE CAUGHT WITH SMALL AMOUNTS WILL FACE FINES SIMILAR TO TRAFFIC TICKETS. >> IF YOU LOOK AT THE STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT WHITE PEOPLE AND BLACK PEOPLE SMOKE MARIJUANA AT SIMILAR RATES, YET BLACK NORTH CAROLINIANS ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED AND CONVICTED. THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION IS TO JUST DECRIMINALIZE IT. >> Reporter: STEIN EMPHASIZED THAT DECRIMINALIZING SIMPLE POSSESSION IS NOT THE SAME AS LEGALIZING MARIJUANA. >> WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING LEGALIZATION AT THIS TIME. WE THINK THAT THE STATE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM DOING IT, BY MAKING IT AN INFRACTION. >> Reporter: STEIN SAYS HE HAS STUDIED HOW OTHER STATES HAVE WORKED TO FIND SOLUTIONS. >> DECRIMINALIZING SIMPLE POSSESSION HAS HAPPENED IN VIRGINIA AND OTHER STATES, YOU SEE THE BROAD BENEFITS, TO TAKING ALL OF THESE ISSUES OUT OF THE COURTS. >> Reporter: HE REEMPHASIZED THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE TASK FORCE. >> TO MAKE IT SUCH THAT OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MORE CLOSELY LIVES UP TO THAT IDEAL OF EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW. >> Reporter: WRAL NEWS. STRUCK GOVERNOR COOPER'S OFFICE RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING, QUOTE, THIS TASK FORCE HAS LIMITED IMPORTANT WORK ON WAYS TO MAKE OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MORE EQUITABLE.