Miami Beach Approves Marijuana Ordinance
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MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) - People caught with small amounts of marijuana will no longer face arrest in the City of Miami Beach.
By a vote of 5-0, the city's commission approved a local marijuana ordinance on Wednesday.
Under the ordinance, which goes into effect in 10 day, people caught with under 20 grams of marijuana will be given a civil fine of $100 instead of facing arrest.
The city's ordinance is similar to one being considered by Miami-Dade County, which would give police the option of issuing a civil citation rather than making an arrest.
The issue of whether police should spend their time making arrests over small amounts of marijuana was the focus of a recent CBS4 News Investigation – Race Matters: Policing By The Numbers. The series noted how an arrest, even for a misdemeanor like marijuana possession, can have a serious effect on a person's future.
Critics of the current law also claim marijuana arrests disproportionately affect blacks.