Teen Marijuana IQ

Harrisburg council members have set two public meetings to discuss a proposal to reduce simple marijuana possession from a misdemeanor to a summary offense, which is the same level as a traffic ticket.

(File/Ted S. Warren)

HARRISBURG- Harrisburg city council members are planning two public meetings to weigh a proposal to reduce marijuana possession from a misdemeanor to the same level as a traffic ticket.

The meetings will be Thursday March 10 at the Harrisburg Area Community College midtown campus, Midtown 2, Room 206, at 1500 North Third Street and Thursday March 24 at the city's public works building at 1820 Paxton Street. Both meetings will start at 5:30 p.m.

Councilman Cornelius Johnson, who chairs the public safety committee, said he is hosting the meetings to gather as much public input as possible.

"We have to make sure this ordinance is the right fit for Harrisburg," he said "We want any and all comments, whether people are for or against this proposal."

As it stands, the proposal by Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse would reduce the level of crime for possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana to a summary offense instead of a misdemeanor.

The fine for a first offense would be $100. A second offense would cost $200. A third offense would revert back to a misdemeanor, which typically carries a much higher fine and stays on a person's criminal record.

The proposal could generate some additional money for the city. Summary offense fines stay with the city, whereas misdemeanor crimes and fines are handled by county court.

The mayor's proposed fines have been questioned by a few council members as too steep for poor residents. The fines would be much higher than the $25 fines in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh_ two cities in the state that have already decriminalized marijuana possession.

Papenfuse said he supported the fines of $100 and $200 because he did not want to encourage drug use. Under his proposal, he said, a judge could waive the fine in lieu of community service.

The marijuana proposal contains many provisions that could be changed, based on what the public prefers, Johnson said. The fine structure, the amount of marijuana that is considered a small amount, and the three-strikes you're out provision are among the many areas he hopes to explore during the public meetings.

The city solicitor, meanwhile, is studying how a summary drug offense would affect a defendant's driver's license, if at all, and how the city should approach related charges such as possession of drug paraphernalia, which remains a misdemeanor.

Council members said they plan to invite county officials and hope the meetings are well-attended.

"We want people to understand the law and what is being proposed," Johnson said.