After rejecting a similar move at the local level a month ago, Easton City Council is urging Pennsylvania lawmakers to reduce penalties for possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Council on Wednesday night passed a resolution calling on the state "to make the possession or personal use of a small amount of marijuana a summary offense, rather than a misdemeanor."

The effort follows action by several cities across Pennsylvania to "decriminalize" possession and use of a small amount -- defined as fewer than 30 grams -- of marijuana, the resolution states.

Marijuana would still be illegal, but the idea is to punish personal use with lesser penalties. Under current state law, anyone convicted of the misdemeanor charge for possession of a small amount faces up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine, plus a driver's license suspension. Possession of drug paraphernalia is punishable by a $2,500 fine and a year behind bars.

A conviction can jeopardize everything from housing to federal student loans to job opportunities, officials say.

Easton Councilman Peter Melan proposed giving city police an alternative to charge small-amount offenders with a civil, summary offense carrying a fine of $75 to $300. Council in a 4-3 vote rejected the idea Feb. 28.

Wednesday's resolution passed 6-1, with Councilman Ken Brown opposed, and states that city council "does not promote or condone the possession or use of marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia" but "would like to provide criminal relief from the personal use of a small amount of marijuana and the possession of marijuana paraphernalia so that individuals are charged as a summary offense, rather than a misdemeanor offense."

Easton City Council by a 6-1 vote March 28, 2018, passed this resolution urging state lawmakers to reduce the penalties for possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of marijuana paraphernalia for personal use. (Courtesy image | For lehighvalleylive.com)

The resolution puts the ball in state lawmakers' court where it belongs, according to Mayor Sal Panto Jr. He voted against the local summary charge but supports a lesser charge statewide.

Panto called the resolution "a step forward."

There is a bill before the state House, HB 928, that would reduce penalties for possession of a small amount of marijuana in line with Easton's recommendation. It has not been voted out of committee during the 2017-18 session.

"If a first or second offense were graded as summary offenses, they could be treated by issuing citations," sponsor Rep. Barry Jozwiak, R-Berks, wrote in a co-sponsorship memo. "Police officers would appear in local magisterial district justice courts to prosecute the cases, or the defendant could just simply pay the fine, resulting in cost savings all around. A third offense would still be graded as a misdemeanor offense. ...

"As a former law enforcement officer, I strongly believe in cracking down on drug dealers and those who prey on the young or weak with drugs. But those defendants are addressed elsewhere in the Controlled Substances Act. For individuals who merely possess small amounts of marijuana, I believe this adjusted grading makes sense."

A marijuana sample is examined March 25, 2018, at the New England Cannabis Convention in Boston. Exhibitors and experts attended the convention to discuss the country's burgeoning marijuana industry. (AP Photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Easton's resolution goes on to state a copy would be sent to all of the Lehigh Valley's state lawmakers and other Northampton County municipalities, asking them to pass a similar call to action.

The resolution is also to be copied to the Pennsylvania Municipal League and presented at that group's district meeting April 12 in Easton.

Jeffrey Riedy, executive director of the Lehigh Valley branch of the marijuana advocacy group NORML, thanked council for the resolution.

"I can assure you that decriminalization is not a license for public partying," he said. "I can also disprove those gateway theories if you give me the time."

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.