Portland, ME: Portland voters will decide on a municipal initiative this fall that seeks to eliminate penalties citywide for adult residents who possess small quantities of cannabis and/or marijuana paraphernalia.

Sponsors of the measure, Citizens for a Safer Portland, collected over 2,500 certified signatures from Portland voters in support of the plan. Members of the Portland City Council on Monday voted 5 to 1 to place the measure on a citywide ballot this fall.

Passage of the measure would eliminate civil penalties for adults who possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and/or cannabis paraphernalia within city limits. Public consumption of the substance would remain a punishable offense.

Under present state law, the possession of 2.5 ounces of marijuana or less is classified as a civil offense punishable by a fine of up to $600.

Portland voters will decide the measure on November 5, 2013.

For more information, please contact Erik Altieri, NORML Communications Director, at (202) 483-5500 or visit: http://www.facebook.com/SensiblePortland.

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