West Palm Beach, FL: City officials last week approved a municipal ordinance providing police with the option to cite, rather than arrest, minor marijuana possession offenders.
Under the new policy, those over the age of 18 found with 20 grams or less of cannabis within city limits face a $100 civil penalty. By contrast, state law classifies similar possession offenses as a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a criminal record.
West Palm Beach joins several other Florida localities that have recently adopted similar municipal measures, including Miami-Dade county, Miami Beach, and Key West.
For more information, please contact Danielle Keane, NORML Political Director, at (202) 483-5500 or NORML of Florida at: http://normlfl.org/.