A Volusia County leader wants to decriminalize marijuana possession in the county.

Councilman Josh Wagner proposed the ordinance during the council's previous meeting Dec. 17, where it was well received by other councilmembers.

Under current state law, possession of pot is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine and jail time.

But under the county ordinance backed by Wagner, a police officer could determine whether a person with less than 20 grams of pot would face a civil penalty with a fine of up to $250.

Wagner says if passed, the ordinance would have a direct impact on county courts and jails. It comes at a time when there is yet another push to pass the legalization of marijuana in Florida.

It's something 41-year-old Micah Gussow and his friends are excited about. He said he doesn't smoke pot right now and hasn't since he was a kid. However, he thinks he might start smoking again if Wagner's proposed ordinance passes.

"This ordinance for the possession under 20 is for everybody," Wagner said.



Asked whether he thinks marijuana should be legalized, Wagner responded, "Personally yes. I think the war on drugs is a complete failure."



If it passes, it would affect primarily medicinal marijuana. Councilmembers will discuss the proposed ordinance again during their upcoming meeting Jan. 7 and decide whether the ordinance can become county law.

