The second of four public meetings on a proposal by Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana is being held Monday evening, July 29, at 6 p.m. at the at Bennie Furlong Senior Center in Jacksonville Beach.
Dennis filed a bill in May that would let police issue a civil citation to people caught with less than 20 grams of pot.
Under the current law, possession of less than 20 grams of pot is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Dennis’ proposal would replace that with a $100 fine or 10 hours of community service.
"Twenty other city and counties have already passed it in the state of Florida. And it’s time for us to catch up with the times." Dennis told WJCT News partner News4Jax.
More than a dozen Florida cities and counties have already made the change.
Meetings are also scheduled for Tuesday evening, July 30, at the Bob Hayes Sports Complex and Legends Center on Soutel Drive and Monday, August 5, at the Webb Wesconnett Library on 103rd Street.
Contact reporter Cyd Hoskinson at choskinson@wjct.org, 904-358-6351 and on Twitter at @cydwjctnews.
