Portland, ME: Portland voters will decide Tuesday on a municipal ballot measure that that seeks to eliminate penalties citywide for adults who possess small quantities of cannabis and/or marijuana paraphernalia.

Sponsors of the measure, Citizens for a Safer Portland, collected over 2,500 certified signatures from Portland voters in support of the plan. Members of the Portland City Council voted 5 to 1 in July to place the measure on the November ballot.

Passage of the measure, municipal ballot Question 1, would eliminate civil penalties for adults who possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and/or cannabis paraphernalia within Portland city limits. Public consumption of the substance would remain a punishable offense.

Under present state law, the possession of 2.5 ounces of marijuana or less is classified as a civil offense punishable by a fine of up to $600.

Similar municipal initiatives have previously passed in several other cities, including Denver, Colorado and Detroit, Michigan.

Voters in Lansing, Michigan will also decide on a similar citywide measure next week.

For more information, please contact Erik Altieri, NORML Communications Director, at (202) 483-5500.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

