The proposed ordinance which would make marijuana possession a misdemeanor and a non-jail offense. If caught with less than an ounce of the drug, offenders would be fined a ticket up to $500 or equivalent community service.

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WEBVTT RIGHT NOW -- A CONTROVERSIAL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE IS ON THE TABLE FOR STATESBORO CITY LEADERS. GOOD EVENING. I'M SHANNON ROYSTER.AND I'M DALE JULIN.THE STATESBORO CITY COUNCIL WILL BE VOTING NEXT WEEK ON POSSIBLY DECRIMINALIZING POSSESSION OF LESS THAN AN OUNCE OF MARIJUANA.WJCL'S JACKSON KURTZ JOINS US IN THE STUDIO WITH WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING...JACKSON? THE FOLKS WE SPOKE WITH ARE IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WHICH WOULD MAKE MARIJUANA POSSESSION A MISDEMEANOR AND A NON-JAIL OFFENSE.WHEN IF CAUGHT WITH LESS THAN AN OUNCE OF THE DRUG, OFFENDERS WOULD BE FINED A TICKET UP TO $500 OR EQUIVALENT COMMUNITY SERVICE. THIS STARTED BACK IN JUNE WHEN COUNCIL MEMBERS SUGGESTED "DECRIMINALIZING" THE AMOUNT OF WEED MAKING IT A "CITE AND RELEASE" OFFENSE.STATESBORO OFFICIALS SAY THEY WANT TO AVOID SENDING YOUNG OFFENDERS TO JAIL AND HOPE THE CHANGE WILL HELP THEM AVOID LINGERING DAMAGE TO THEIR LIVES AND CAREERS.THIS IS WHERE IT GETS CONFUSING: GEORGIA LAW SAYS YOU FACE UP TO A YEAR JAIL TIME OR FINED UP TO $1,000 FOR THE HAVING LESS THAN AN OUNCE OF WEED.BUT THE ORDINANCE WOULD PROVIDE LOWER PENALTIES WHEN OFFENDERS ARE CITED BY THE CITY POLICE AND PROSECUTED IN THE CITY'S COURT.WE SPOKE WITH LOCAL STUDENTS AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN IN STATESBORO WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE. KAYLA JORDAN, SENIOR AT GSU "I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS AREA SINCE IT IS A COLLEGE TOWN, A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE ARE A PART OF GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND SO I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE MAY INDULGE IN A LOT OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD GO TO JAIL FOR IT"

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A controversial marijuana ordinance is on the table for Statesboro City officials.The Statesboro City Council will be voting next week if they want to "decriminalize" possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.The proposed ordinance which would make marijuana possession a misdemeanor and a non-jail offense. If caught with less than an ounce of the drug, offenders would be fined with a ticket up to $500 or equivalent community service.This started back in June when council members suggested "decriminalizing" the amount of weed making it a "cite and release" offense.Statesboro officials say they want to avoid sending young offenders to jail and hope the change will help them avoid lingering damage to their lives and careers.This is where it gets confusing: Georgia law says you face up to a year jail time or fined up to $1,000 for the having less than an ounce of weed.But the ordinance would provide lower penalties when offenders are cited by the city police and prosecuted in the city's court.We spoke with local students at Georgia Southern in Statesboro who are in favor of the ordinance."I think it would be a great idea, especially for this area since it is a college town, a lot of people here are a part of Georgia Southern University and so I feel like a lot of people here may indulge in a lot of extracurricular activities but I don't feel like they should go to jail for it," said Kayla Jordan, senior.The City Council will vote on the ordinance in their next meeting Tuesday at Dec. 4 at 9 a.m.The proposed ordinance is one of three new ordinance Statesboro officials will be voting on including a brunch bill much similar to the one that passed in Savannah.