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Grand Rapids Police Lt. Patrick Merrill holds a bag of marijuana during the 2012 report of crime stats to Grand Rapids city commissioners and manager at City Hall on Tuesday, July 23. (Emily Zoladz | Mlive.com)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Police say they have not seen a major spike in cases of marijuana use or possession since May 1, when city officers began enforcing most incidents as a civil infraction.

Grand Rapids voters last year decided at the ballot to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana, under 2.5 ounces.

After a legal challenge, the law took effect May 1.

Grand Rapids police on Tuesday, July 23, said statistics show no significant changes in the number of marijuana cases police are handling.

From May 1 to July 22 of this year, police encountered 266 cases of marijuana use or possession.

Last year, for the same time period, the number was 259 cases.

Of this year's cases, all but 22 were deemed civil infractions for which the offender was issued a ticket.

Related: Grand Rapids man gets first citation after marijuana decriminalized

Grand Rapids police Lt. William Nowicki said the 22 cases likely involved situations where the offender had other violations. The marijuana charge becomes a misdemeanor if a violator can also be charged with a felony or high-court misdemeanor.

Nowicki presented the statistics during a public safety committee meeting today with part of the city commission.

City Manager Greg Sundstom said he took the statistics as "very good news."

The financial fallout of the new law remains unclear, however.

Related: 6 months after the vote: Marijuana decriminalization 'pilot' starts today in Grand Rapids

The civil infractions carry a penalty of $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second offense and $100 for a third offense.

Nowicki said the typical penalty from last year for misdemeanor convictions for marijuana use or possession ranged from $178 to $400.

Also, officers still need to spend time confiscating the marijuana and tagging it as evidence, even though it's a civil infraction.

E-mail John Tunison: jtunison@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/johntunison