The Borough of Steelton took the first step toward legalizing marijuana, at least at the municipal level, during a special meeting Tuesday evening.

According to a release Tuesday from the borough, Steelton Borough Council passed Ordinance 2019-02, which reduced the penalty for possession of small amounts of marijuana to a summary offense. The decriminalization ordinance was passed by a unanimous vote.

Borough council said it recognized changes in attitudes toward marijuana across the country and locally, and wants to be at the forefront of progressive marijuana policy.

Council president Brian Proctor said, "We believe policy needs to change with the times. That includes taking a new look at marijuana, its potential to benefit our community, and realigning criminal justice policy to appropriately fit marijuana-related crimes.”

Steelton previously approved a medical marijuana zoning ordinance, which led to the borough becoming the home Dauphin County’s only medical marijuana dispensary, the borough said.

"The burgeoning marijuana industry is critical to rebuilding Steelton’s economy,” Keontay Hodge, Councilwoman and author of Ordinance 2019-02, said in the release. “It is foolish and foolhardy to stick our heads in the sand while this opportunity passes us by; it is equally foolish to ignore to disproportionate impact outdated marijuana laws have on small-time users.”

The borough said it is continuing to explore recreational marijuana policies and that the borough has a committee specifically assigned to prepare the borough to be “at the forefront of the recreational marijuana industry when the time comes."