Pubdate: Thu, 11 Sep 2014
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248

BILL TO REDUCE PENALTIES ON POT

Philadelphia's City Council is expected to pass a bill 
decriminalizing marijuana next week after a review of drug arrests 
showed city police were overwhelmingly targeting black men and women 
when enforcing marijuana laws, city officials said.

Mayor Michael Nutter and City Councilman James Kenney announced the 
agreement to decriminalize marijuana.

Once signed by Nutter, the measure will take effect Oct. 20.

"This bill will not legalize marijuana. Rather, it will decriminalize 
marijuana - which means that offenses involving small amounts of 
marijuana will result in a civil penalty, not an arrest or criminal 
record," Nutter said in a statement.
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