Members of the Reading (population: 95,000) city council have approved a municipal ordinance decriminalizing low-level marijuana possession offenses.
The ordinance, which passed by a 5-2 vote on Monday, imposes civil fines rather than criminal penalties for violations involving either the possession or use of up to 30 grams of marijuana. Under state law, marijuana possession is classified as a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by jail time.
Regional NORML coordinator Chris Goldstein spoke before the council in favor of the ordinance, opining that its adoption will save city resources and prevent thousands of low-level arrests. “Decriminalization is well proven, not just in Pennsylvania, but around the country,” he said. “One small arrest can have a huge impact [on people’s lives.]”
Numerous other Pennsylvania cities, including Erie, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, have enacted similar ordinances.
Since 2018, nearly 90,000 Pennsylvanians have been arrested for violating state marijuana laws. Over 85 percent of those arrests were for marijuana possession.
Additional information on municipal decriminalization ordinances is available from NORML.
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