ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Two Albuquerque city councilors say they want to decriminalize pot possession in cases where a person is caught with an ounce of marijuana or less.
Councilors Pat Davis and Isaac Benton plan Monday to discuss their proposal to amend Albuquerque’s criminal code.
It now allows for authorities to issue $50 fines to first-time offenders possessing an ounce or less of marijuana. The infraction can also result in a maximum of 15 days in jail under the criminal code.
Under Davis and Benton’s proposal, possessing pot without a valid referral would be a citable offense that comes with a $25 ticket and no jail time.
The same citation could be applied in cases where an officer finds a person in possession of marijuana paraphernalia, like a pipe or bong.