Marathon Considers Decriminalizing Small Amounts Of Pot

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

MARATHON (CBSMiami/AP) -- The city of Marathon is considering joining Key West and Islamorada in giving law enforcement the option to issue a civil citation rather than make a misdemeanor arrest for someone caught with up to 20 grams of marijuana.

The Keynoter reports that Marathon city councilors are considering the measure. One official said it would allow Monroe County Sheriff's Office deputies more time to address serious crimes and save taxpayer money by not putting people through the county legal system.

Earlier this week, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn signed an ordinance decriminalizing marijuana. The new law allows police officers to fine rather than arrest offenders found with up to 20 grams, roughly three-quarters of an ounce, of marijuana.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.