Pennsylvania has tried time and time again to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes, and although it's never quite made it past the Senate hurdle, at least one city in the Keystone State will be getting a little more cannabis-friendly.
The Pittsburgh City Council finished its legislative session with a 7-2 vote in favor of a bill to reduce criminal penalties to a civil fine of up to $100 for the possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis or 8 grams of hashish. The bill was sponsored by Councilman Daniel Lavelle, and Mayor Bill Peduto has also pledged his support with a promise to sign the bill.
This bill was passed with the intention of reducing costs for law enforcement, as well as lowering the rate of arrests for minors, who could otherwise be burdened with criminal charges that could follow them for the rest of their life. The burden is especially true for people of color in the area – a 2013 report from the ACLU shows that blacks in Allegheny County are 5.7 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than whites for the same offense, despite equal rates of usage among the two groups.
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Pittsburgh Votes to Decriminalize Cannabis
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