Marijuana is one step away from being decriminalized in Philadelphia.
On Thursday, Philadelphia City Council voted 14–2 in support of a bill to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Under the new law, which will take effect after Mayor Michael Nutter signs it, a person stopped with less than 30 grams of marijuana will only have to pay a $25 fine, and the offense will not go on the person's criminal record. Public consumption of marijuana will result in a $100 fine and mandatory community service.
Prior to a compromise on Sept. 10 that included a more severe penalty for public use of marijuana, Nutter had opposed marijuana decriminalization in Philadelphia.
Both Nutter and City Councilman Jim Kenney , who introduced the bill, have cited racial disparities as a major reason to rethink Philadelphia’s drug policy. In 2013, Philadelphia police arrested 4,336 people for marijuana possession. Eighty-six percent of those arrested were black.
If signed by the mayor, the law would take effect on Oct. 20.
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