Pot smokers rejoice: Small amounts of marijuana now can lead to class, not jail

EXPLAINER: What you need to know about Harris County marijuana law

A new policy that went into effect at midnight Tuesday will allow people caught with up to four ounces of marijuana to avoid arrest or jail time by taking a four-hour drug-education class.

>> Click through the slideshow to learn more about the marijuana policy in Harris County ... less EXPLAINER: What you need to know about Harris County marijuana law

A new policy that went into effect at midnight Tuesday will allow people caught with up to four ounces of marijuana to avoid arrest or jail time ... more Photo: Mark Boster /Los Angeles Times Photo: Mark Boster /Los Angeles Times Image 1 of / 26 Caption Close Pot smokers rejoice: Small amounts of marijuana now can lead to class, not jail 1 / 26 Back to Gallery

It's a new day for small-time pot smokers in Harris County.

A new policy that went into effect at midnight Tuesday will allow people caught with up to four ounces of marijuana to avoid arrest or jail time by taking a four-hour drug-education class.

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The policy, announced recently by District Attorney Kim Ogg, is expected to save the area more than $25 million in costs for the jail, courts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, lab testing and officers' time.

Under the new policy, law enforcement officers who find probable cause to arrest someone with fewer than four ounces of marijuana will do two things: confiscate the drugs and have the person sign a contract promising to take the drug education class. The pot and paperwork will be dropped off at the station at the end of the shift.

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If the offenders complete the class, the drugs are destroyed, the contract is filed away and there remains neither an arrest nor court record. If they don't, an arrest warrant will be issued and a regular criminal case filed.

The program leaves no paper trail for offenders and encompasses up one-fourth of a pound of marijuana, which would fill about two sandwich bags.