Starting today, getting caught with a little pot could mean a little jail time - for at least the next year.

Cincinnati City Council's Law and Public Safety Committee adopted a tougher marijuana ordinance Tuesday - over the objections of a dozen citizens who testified at the hearing. 

The full council will consider the ordinance today - but a majority, five members, has already voted in support of it. 

The ordinance would increase the penalty for possessing less than 100 grams of marijuana - even a single joint - from a written citation and a $100 fine to arrest and a possible 30 days in jail. 

Councilman Cecil Thomas promoted the ordinance, saying it would be a way to get guns off the streets and make neighborhoods safer because it would give officers broader powers to search people or vehicles.  Committee members were lukewarm on the idea, until a compromise one-year sunset clause was added - meaning the law would expire after a year unless renewed by council. 

The compromise was brokered by Councilman Jeff Berding, who said the city administration would give reports after six months and one year on a number of issues: the amount of drugs and guns confiscated as a result of the stiffer law, the impact on police and jail capacity, the impact on open air drug "markets," and the cost.  "By placing a one-year sunset clause, we're forcing this council to analyze the information," Berding said.  "Then we can decide with a lot of knowledge if it's effective."

"But the way to study it is to implement it for one year.  I think that's good public policy."

All of the 12 members of the public who spoke at the hearing were against the ordinance, with most saying such considerations should be answered before the law is toughened. 

"Marijuana users do not commit crimes, other than using marijuana," said Mason Tvert of Denver, Colo., who worked for the legalization in that city. 

Tvert, who works for Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation, said a tougher law probably would prompt people to drink more alcohol. 

"Marijuana users do not engage in violent behavior, unlike alcohol users," Tvert said. 

But "the most important aspect of this is it gives officers an additional tool for search and seizure," Thomas said Tuesday. 

Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell was the only committee member to vote "no."

"This will not change anything appreciably," Tarbell said.  "This is a class issue.  The people caught and prosecuted will be low-income African-Americans.  I think this sends the wrong message to police."

Newshawk: Rob Ryan
Webpage: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060315/NEWS01/60315034
Pubdate: Wed, 15 Mar 2006
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer (OH)
Page: 2
Copyright: 2006 The Cincinnati Enquirer
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Author: Dan Klepal