Cincinnati City Council passes marijuana ordinance

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Cincinnati Police will no longer be citing people for having or using what some consider small amounts of pot. City Council voted Wednesday to decriminalize possessing 100 grams or less, as long as you aren't using in public. With a five-to-three vote, the city of Cincinnati took away the $150 fine and the stigma that came with using marijuana. Here’s how they voted: Dennard - No Landsman - Yes Mann - No Murray - No Seelbach - Yes Sittenfeld - Absent Smitherman - Yes Pastor - Yes Young - Yes Just a smattering of applause in council chambers as the ordinance passed, but the lackluster response does not represent the huge debate that has existed in this city for years over decriminalizing pot. "This is critical legislation in order to free black men like me who are facing the overcriminalization of small amounts of marijuana in the city of Cincinnati," said Cincinnati Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman before the vote. "This says it's OK if you're 12 years old in Cincinnati to possess 100 grams of marijuana,” said Councilmember David Mann. “Why on earth are we doing it? That doesn't make any sense to me." Along with David Mann, Councilmember Amy Murray opposed decriminalization. Oddly enough, pot legalization proponent Councilmember Tamaya Dennard also opposed the ordinance because it didn't go far enough. She wants criminal records expunged for people who have been convicted in the past for marijuana-related offenses. "I am concerned about the black men moving forward,” said Dennard. “But I'm also concerned about the black men and the black people this has already impacted. So unless someone could clearly show me a path forward on expungement, my vote would be no." Dennard and other pot proponents are seeking full pot legalization. And it may be here soon. Currently, 33 States allow medical marijuana, 11 states and Washington, D.C. allow recreational use,and an initiative is on the precipice of making it on Ohio's ballot in November, that would legalize the use, possession, and sale of marijuana for persons age 21 or older in Ohio. Local 12 spoke with people near the University of Cincinnati who were happy to hear about the decriminalization. "They can't get no job, because they got pulled over for this weed. I don't think it's a bad drug. That's how I feel about it,” said Dell Meece. "To still be putting people in jail for extended periods of time, crowding the jails, wasting our taxpayer monies, it doesn't make sense to me. So, I'm definitely glad to see the move today,” said mother of three Beth Littleman. Again, if you're going to use pot in Cincinnati, you will have to still do it behind closed doors. This ordinance stipulates no public consumption. And you will need to wait another 30 days until the ordinance goes into effect.