Atlanta City Council Votes To Ease Marijuana Penalty
The Atlanta City Council unanimously approved a new measure Monday that would reduce marijuana possession to a ticket-only offense with a $75 fine.
Jeff Chiu / Associated Press
Less than an ounce of marijuana may no longer send you to jail in Atlanta.
The Atlanta City Council unanimously approved the new measure Monday. It would reduce marijuana possession to a ticket-only offense with a $75 fine.
The legislation had been stalled for months after the City Council declined to vote on it in April. And the ordinance didn’t pass this time without some debate from council members.
What concerned Council member Keisha Lance Bottoms was how the ordinance might conflict with state law, which has stronger penalties.
“Are we sending an irresponsible message to the people of this city about the possession of any drugs?” Bottoms asked.
Council member Kwanza Hall, who introduced the legislation, urged the city to move forward and be an example for the state on marijuana.
“It’s lives being impacted daily, if not hourly, by this,” he said.
Both Hall and Bottoms are running for mayor.
Ultimately, the City Council agreed to request new training for Atlanta police, in an effort to make sure officers follow Atlanta’s law on marijuana and not the state’s. Council members also called for educating the public on what the ordinance meant.
Once the legislation finally passed, the City Council chambers erupted in applause from activists in the audience who had been speaking out on the issue for the past several months.
Dean Steed with the group Solutions Not Punishment said the ordinance is a big improvement over the old penalties.
“There is a difference in being locked up for six months and paying $1,000 for such a small offense and just being able to get a ticket,” Steed said.
Mayor Kasim Reed has eight days to sign or veto the legislation.
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