(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Minneapolis reduces marijuana penalties to match state law
Minneapolis voted Friday to sync its marijuana possession law to match existing state rules, reducing the crime from a misdemeanor to petty misdemeanor.
By ericroper
February 26, 2016 at 5:45PM
A man prepares a marijuana joint in Tompkins Square Park in New York, Dec. 12, 2015. (Hilary Swift/The New York Times)
Minneapolis voted Friday to sync its marijuana possession law to match existing state rules, reducing the crime from a misdemeanor to petty misdemeanor.
The change is expected to have "minimal or no impact" because Minneapolis police rely on the state statute when charging small-scale marijuana offenses, according to a staff report.
"I believe that crimes and serious charges should be reserved for matters that are seriously injurious to society," said Council Member Jacob Frey, a sponsor of the measure. "And possessing a joint just quite simply does not rise to that level."
A petty misdemeanor are technically not a "crime" under state law, since they are not punishable by jail time.
The change passed the City Council unanimously on Friday.
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