PHILADELPHIA --

A policy change by prosecutors and judges

will eliminate criminal prosecution of persons caught with small amounts of marijuana, according to a report on Philly.com.

The report said the city's new district attorney and the state Supreme Court are making the change to try to alleviate a backlog of cases in the city's court system. Persons found to be in possession of about an ounce or less of marijuana will pay a fine but not be given a criminal record.

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