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Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter greets former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Free Library of Philadelphia in June.

(Lori M. Nichols | South Jersey Times)

Philadelphia is a signature away from becoming the largest city in America to decriminalize marijuana possession, according to multiple published reports.

Mayor Michael Nutter said Monday he will sign a bill that essentially fines people $25 for the possession of marijuana under an ounce, CBS Philly reported.

A citation for possession would require an appearance before a Municipal Court judge, the news station said, but there would be no criminal record. A $100 fine will be handed to anyone caught smoking marijuana in public, phillymag.com reported.

Philadelphia's current law at the bare minimum carries a $200 fine for marijuana possession, drug abuse courses and an arrest record, according to the Huffington Post.

Councilman Jim Kenney authored the original bill, which was tweaked slightly by Nutter.

"We've gotten to a place where it is out of the criminal realm," he told CBS Philly.

The new regulations will save the city's police department about $4 million a year, Kenney told the news station.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at NJ.com on Facebook.