Santa Fe, N.M., made history yesterday after voting to decriminalize marijuana, according to The Associated Press.
The Santa Fe Council voted 5-4 to make possession of an ounce or less of marijuana punishable with a fine of no more than $25. This makes Santa Fe the first New Mexico city to make possession of small amounts of marijuana a civil infraction, according to AP.
"It ... is an historic win for us all," Drug Policy Alliance state director Emily Kaltenbach told Reuters.
Before this, possession of an ounce or less was considered a criminal misdemeanor with fines between $50 and $100 and up to 15 days in jail, according to Reuters. But after activists submitted enough valid voter signatures, the council was forced to vote on the matter, AP reported.
The marijuana-decriminalization issue would have appeared in a November ballot for public vote, according to Reuters, but lawmakers decided to outright change the statute.
"I have been in favor of decriminalization all along, I just wanted this to be on the November ballot in order for the citizens to make the decision," Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales told Reuters.
New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez said she is against reducing marijuana possession penalties in Santa Fe and Albuquerque and said she doesn't believe a municipality can decriminalize marijuana without any legislative action.
But will lowering the punishment for marijuana possession increase marijuana usage?
"I don't think that by supporting this there's going to be many more potheads," City Councilor Carmichael Dominguez, who voted in favor of the issue, told The Santa Fe Mexican.
The new regulation will take effect in 30 days.
