Small Marijuana possession is still an arrestable offense in Palm Beach county, due to a delay in the county commission’s recent 4-1 vote, officially reducing the crime of possession to citation for less than 20 grams.
The ordinance doesn’t legalize marijuana, however it gives law enforcement an alternative to making an arrest and reduces the penalties for those caught with it. Offenders can either pay a $100 fine or choose to do 10 hours of community service.
The ordinance only covers offenders 18 and over, and an offender can receive a maximum of two citations.
The county commission says between 2010 and 2014, more than 7,500 cases in the county involved possession of 20 grams of marijuana or less.
In 90% of those cases, the person involved ended up in the jail – the remaining 10% received a citation or a notice to appear.
