EASTON, Pa. — Easton City Council is considering a measure to make marijuana possession equal to a traffic violation.
Councilman Frank Pintabone on Wednesday introduced an ordinance to bring that would rebrand possession charges as a summary offense.
Pintabone’s ordinance is scheduled to be voted on at council’s next meeting, at 6 p.m. March 12.
The ordinance would have different fine fee structures for possession and for use in public.
“My main work, [my main] reason for bringing this forward, and I think everybody agrees, is to not stain the record of someone for a small amount of marijuana that will hurt them in the future."Easton Councilman Frank Pintabone
Following Pennsylvania’s definition of “small amounts of marijuana,” individuals would be subject to a summary offense for being caught with 30 grams or less of flower, or 8 grams or less of hashish.
The possession of paraphernalia section of the bill notes that any device, instrument or apparatus used to introduce the drug into the human body also would see a similar penalty.
No details about concentrates are included in the bill.
Originally, first-time offenders caught with a small amount of marijuana would see a $90 fine, according to the language in the bill. A second offense would be $180, and a third $270.
However, Pintabone’s proposed amendment divided the fines into two categories and changed the amounts.
First-time offenders charged with possession would face a $25 fine, with second offenses seeing a $35 fine and a third offense a $45 fine.
Those caught using marijuana in public would be subject to a first-time fine of $150, a second-time fine of $250, and a third-time fine of $300.
Those fined four or more times for either offense would be subject to the county court.
“My main work, [my main] reason for bringing this forward, and I think everybody agrees, is to not stain the record of someone for a small amount of marijuana that will hurt them in the future, getting a job, getting so many different options,” Pintabone said.
'Stays on your record forever'
The ordinance would prevent a misdemeanor drug possession charge if the individual adheres to the limitations and the fines.
Pintabone spoke more on the matter in an interview prior to council’s meeting.
“I want the punishment to be equal," he said. "Regardless of the skin color, regardless of your economic status, currently, in the City of Easton, if you get stopped with a small amount of marijuana, they write you a citation, blah, blah, blah," Pintabone said.
"You show up in court, you get a fine of $25 and that doesn't seem like a bad deal, right? The problem is it stays on your record as a drug possession forever."Easton Councilman Frank Pintabone
"You show up in court, you get a fine of $25 and that doesn't seem like a bad deal, right? The problem is it stays on your record as a drug possession forever."
Pintabone said a small record such as possession could hinder a person from securing a job, a residence or other opportunities throughout their life for even a single infraction.
“So this is the best recommendation I can come up with after talking to everybody here other municipalities, the police chief and members of the public," Pintabone said.
"So that's what I will be moving forward for the next agenda next month to vote on."
Councilwoman Taiba Sultana supported the proposal.
"Changing from a criminal record to the summary offense is to actually remove the barriers for people of color and for minorities" who often are targeted more for drug law violations at a disproportionate rate, she said.
'Step in the right direction'
The Sentencing Project reports about one in four people arrested for drug violations are Black, while Black people only make up about 14% of the U.S. population, and drug usage is similar across Black and white Americans.
Mayor Sal Panto Jr. initially disagreed with the ordinance, preferring higher fine rates, then said he supports the measure after Pintabone explained the revised fines.
Vice Mayor Ken Brown said he would vote no on the ordinance at the next meeting, citing an incident where he and his wife were on vacation in Las Vegas and a group of people began smoking marijuana on a bus.
"My fear is that... people just like to push the envelope sometime."Vice Mayor Ken Brown
“Now that's my fear," Brown said. "I can say, I know this world's changing, and I can get behind and change if the state gets involved.
"But my fear is that — and it's came up last night — we have a festival, someone's smoking, and… guarantee you, because people just like to push the envelope sometime, and you have a small child there. It's too late."
After a brief discussion concerning regulations of adopting an amendment before introducing the ordinance, council opted to pass the amended fine structure and introduce the measure.
Prior to the ordinance’s introduction, Robert MacDonald spoke in support of the measure.
“I think it’s a great idea," MacDonald said. "It’s a step in the right direction for the City of Easton.
“I know Governor Shapiro has been pushing forward ... our state legislature for this, like even further back with Governor Wolf.
"And I know that this would keep us in line when it comes to the cities of Allentown and Bethlehem, who already have decriminalization amendments to their ordinances,"
