(UPDATE 3 p.m.) Tampa City Council has voted 6-1 to assess tickets for minor pot possession rather than arrests. Council must pass the proposal one more time on March 17th for it to become law.
Earlier:
Tampa City Council is set to vote Thursday on an ordinance that decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana.
The bill allows police to write the offender a ticket rather than cart them off to jail.
Those caught with 20 grams or less of weed would pay a 75 dollar fine the first time.
Subsequent violations would cost more.
Citations would also go to people caught with drug paraphernalia like pipes or bongs with pot residue.
Right now, possession of any amount of marijuana is punishable by jail time, fines, and loss of drivers license.
