Tampa Votes To Decriminalize Marijuana Possession

TAMPA, FL — The Tampa City Council has given a green light to a measure that would allow police officers to issue fines to those caught with small amounts of marijuana instead of hauling them off to jail.

Council members voted 5-1 Thursday on the measure, which won’t take effect until it is signed by Mayor Bob Buckhorn. Council member Harry Cohen wasn’t present for the vote and Charlie Miranda cast the sole dissenting vote on the measure, several media outlets have reported.

The new local ordinance, once signed by Buckhorn, gives law enforcement officers the ability to fine those caught with 20 grams or less of pot instead of arresting them. It only applies if marijuana or paraphernalia possession happen to be the “only chargeable offense,” according to the ordinance. Similar ordinances have been put into place in such Florida communities as Miami-Dade, Fernandina Beach and Miami Beach. The city of St. Petersburg is also considering a similar ordinance.

See Also:

• Decriminalizing Marijuana: Is It A Good Idea?

Citing concerns that arrests in such cases are “disproportionate to the severity of the offense,” the ordinance involves a $75 fine for a first offense. Those caught twice would pay $150 and third-time offenders would face a $300 fine. Fourth and subsequent offenses would cost those caught $450.

The ordinance will only apply within the city limits of Tampa. Buckhorn has indicated in the past that he supports the measure. It is unclear how soon the ordinance might gain his signature.

Image via Shutterstock

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