CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland is poised to effectively eliminate prosecution of low-level marijuana possession in a move the legislation’s sponsor says is needed to address social ills and is good government.

City Council’s Safety Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved the proposed ordinance, which would eliminate any fines or jail time for possession of marijuana of up to 200 grams (about 7 ounces).

In addition, those convicted of minor misdemeanor and misdemeanor possession would not carry a criminal record and would not be required to report the conviction on applications for employment and licenses.

The measure is expected to be passed by the full council as early as Jan. 27 and signed soon after by Mayor Frank Jackson. The changes would mirror what several other cities in Ohio – Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo among them – have already done.

Possession of marijuana remains illegal under state law. Federal law still considers marijuana to be on the same level as more serious drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

While Cleveland doesn’t have the ability to trump the state laws and legalize marijuana possession, it does have the ability to adjust local penalties for minor misdemeanor and misdemeanor crimes, said Jennifer Heinert O’Leary, a staff lawyer for City Council.

Under current law, minor misdemeanor possession – up to 100 grams of marijuana, carries a fine of up to $150. Possession of up to 200 grams, defined by the state as a 4th degree misdemeanor, can carry a fine of up to $250 and up to 30 days of imprisonment.

“We believe we are at a pivotal moment in our society where people are beginning to rethink how we deal with marijuana,” said Councilman Blaine Griffin, the legislation’s sponsor.

With the change, the city would no longer be looking at marijuana “through a 1970’s lens,” Griffin said.

“The war on drugs has not worked,” Griffin said in an interview with cleveland.com. “I grew up at a time where I saw a number of people who were impacted by the criminal justice system (as a result of marijuana crimes). … “We have to change our way of thinking.”

Councilman Basheer Jones, too, said the measure is needed because prosecution for even low-level marijuana crimes can create obstacles for people struggling to pay fines or find employment .

“The criminalization of marijuana in too many cases has been a gateway to poverty and putting people in poverty,” Jones said.

Griffin cited data from the American Civil Liberties Union that found African American people were seven times more likely than white people to face the low-level possession charges.

Griffin’s ordinance would not make changes to penalties for higher level crimes.

“This is good policy and good government,” Griffin said. “It will free up the police for higher priority issues.”

Griffin’s legislation was introduced last July and developed out of several meetings of a working group that included members of City Council and representatives from Jackson’s administration, Cleveland Municipal Court and the public.

The Jackson administration was represented at Wednesday’s committee meeting by Police Chief Calvin Williams and several members of his senor staff, Safety Director Michael McGrath and chief City Prosecutor Karrie Howard.

None expressed opposition to the ordinance. Howard said he could think of no cases in the past year where someone was prosecuted solely on a misdemeanor marijuana charge.

Williams and Howard requested that it not be enacted for a few weeks to allow time to set up the new protocol for officers and have conversations with judges in Municipal Court to review the changes.

Griffin said he hopes the General Assembly will make similar changes to state law.