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onehandle

(51,122 posts)
Thu Jun 19, 2014, 03:36 PM Jun 2014

Philadelphia City Council Votes to Decriminalize Marijuana

Source: Philadelphia Magazine

You can breathe a little easier today, stoners, and not just because you probably are into vaping now. Philadelphia City Council voted today to decriminalize the possession of up to an ounce of weed. Even the heaviest stoners rarely buy more than an ounce at a time, so this bill is good news for Philadelphia potheads from the casual smoker to the wake-and-bake stoner.

The bill was first introduced by Councilman Jim Kenney in May. Under Kenney’s bill, Philadelphians caught with up to an ounce (30 grams) of marijuana would not be arrested. After they paid a $25 fine, they’d have the charge expunged from their record. (Presumably, their weed would also be confiscated.) Since June 2010, Philadelphia has treated possession of up to an ounce of weed as a summary offense punishable with a $200 fine and a three-hour class on drug abuse.

"After discussions with Philadelphia’s criminal justice stakeholders, my requests to end mandatory custodial arrests — i.e. handcuffs and a night in jail — were deemed an 'administrative burden' on our courts and police,” Kenney told NBC10.com in May. “Public officials shouldn’t be worried about ‘administrative burdens’ when our inaction is senselessly burdening over 4,000 people with life-changing criminal records each year.”

Two Republican members of City Council, Dennis O’Brien and David Oh, spoke out against the bill. O'Brien suggested the law could eventually lead to “assaults on police officers.”

Read more: http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/06/19/philadelphia-city-council-votes-decriminalize-marijuana



Mayor Nutter recently signed a bill that prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors and ban vaping in Philadelphia workplaces, bars, restaurants, and other public spaces.

I supported the vaping bill, but also support the decriminalization bill. Do what you want, but not in my personal space.
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Philadelphia City Council Votes to Decriminalize Marijuana (Original Post) onehandle Jun 2014 OP
Watch arrests plummet. Philly cops are too lazy to arrest much more than stoners. nt msanthrope Jun 2014 #1
And the two Republicans GoneOffShore Jun 2014 #2
Presumably, their weed would also be confiscated. KamaAina Jun 2014 #3
Kicked and recommended for baby steps toward common sense and logic now legalize it. Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #4
'O'Brien suggested the law could eventually lead to “assaults on police officers.”' Ed Suspicious Jun 2014 #5
An ounce is Stryst Jun 2014 #6
Prohibition is a failed public policy. nt TeamPooka Jun 2014 #7
I cannot WAIT to log into a few of my messengers JackInGreen Jun 2014 #8
Puff, puff, pass Pope Frank. sarcasmo Jun 2014 #9

Uncle Joe

(58,112 posts)
4. Kicked and recommended for baby steps toward common sense and logic now legalize it.
Thu Jun 19, 2014, 03:55 PM
Jun 2014

Thanks for the thread, onehandle.

Ed Suspicious

(8,879 posts)
5. 'O'Brien suggested the law could eventually lead to “assaults on police officers.”'
Thu Jun 19, 2014, 07:11 PM
Jun 2014

It's REEFER MAAADDDNESSSSS!!!!

JackInGreen

(2,975 posts)
8. I cannot WAIT to log into a few of my messengers
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 03:44 AM
Jun 2014

and smoke a bowl with my friends in philly!
Load em up, lets burn.

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