Seeking to ease the burden on courts and save money throughout the public safety budget Philadelphia will essentially decriminalize minor marijuana possession. The announcement from District Attorney R. Seth Williams came in a front-page piece today by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The city's new district attorney and the state Supreme Court are moving to all but decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use in an effort to unclog Philadelphia's crowded court dockets.

Under a policy to take effect later this month, prosecutors will charge such cases as summary offenses rather than as misdemeanors. People arrested with up to 30 grams of the drug - slightly more than an ounce - may have to pay a fine but face no risk of a criminal record. READ FULL ARTICLE

Currently, city residents caught with any amount of cannabis face a mandatory custodial arrest. The “mandatory” part is unique to the city compared with other parts of Pennsylvania. These pot arrests also require court resources. Other municipalities and counties offer summary violations to minor marijuana offenders.

This is a major and pragmatic shift for local marijuana policy. PhillyNORML highlighted the racial disparity of cannabis arrests in recent articles. The group was instrumental in bringing the harsh treatment of adult marijuana consumers to the attention of city officials.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is also running on online poll regarding the shift in marijuana penalties: Currently 89% support the change.

The local chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, PhillyNORML, meets twice per month in the city. A fundraising concert will take place on 4/20/2010 and the annual Marijuana March on historic South Street takes place on May 1, 2010.

More at www.phillynorml.org