Lancaster votes to decriminalize some recreational marijuana use and possession

Sam Ruland 

Marijuana leaves in a neat pile.

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Lancaster City Council voted in favor of amending a city ordinance that would decriminalize marijuana Tuesday night.

“What we are trying to do is make sure that nobody suffers long term effects from this," council president James Reichenbach told Fox43. "We want to be in line with the rest of the state, and frankly, the rest of the country and I think this really takes a step in that direction."

Possession or usage of marijuana will now be considered a summary offense, rather than a misdemeanor, according to Fox43.

People caught using the drug publicly will be fined $75 for the first offense, $100 for the second, and a $125 fine for the third.

“I reiterate we are not trying to circumvent state law. This is within our purview," Reichenbach said. We’re not on our way to legalization in the city. That’s not in our purview. We are not even thinking about that right now."