Mpls. City Council Member Optimistic His Change To City's Marijuana Law Will Pass

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Right now there is a Minnesota state law that classifies small scale marijuana possession as a petty misdemeanor. However, there is a city ordinance in Minneapolis that classifies it as a misdemeanor.

"So under our city ordinance," council member Jacob Frey said. "If you're carrying 1.5 ounces of weed, you can get up to a $200 fine and 90 days in jail." He said

Frey called it a serious penalty for just carrying around a joint.

He told WCCO's Chad Hartman that with a petty misdemeanor, it's just a $50 fine.

He and council member Andrew Johnson are proposing a change that would put the city in line with the state.

"I want to get rid of the discretion" he said "I don't want anybody to be able to hand out a charge that could potentially ruin someone's life."

He said he believes it will pass on Friday when it comes before the council.

"I don't go halfway when I try to change an ordinance. I make sure to get my colleagues on board. I do the groundwork," he said.

The city attorney believes the change in ordinance won't have that big of an impact because in most cases, police use the state statue when dealing with marijuana possession cases.