Neighboring Chamblee Considering Decriminalizing Marijuana

CHAMBLEE, GA —Brookhaven's neighboring city is considering loosening its penalties of possession of marijuana. Chamblee is considering a proposal similar to Clarkston, another DeKalb city that was Georgia's first to lower the penalty for those found to be in possession of one ounce or less or marijuana. Instead of an automatic arrest, a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail time, that penalty is now a $75 drug fine.

"America's war on drugs has been a failure," Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry, who is also running for U.S. Senate in 2020, said at the time of the law's passage.

Chamblee City Councilman Tom Hogan said he believes the council supports the plan, which has been introduced by another councilman, Brian Mock. However, Hogan said the proposal has been tabled until next month because he and the council want to examine other penalties on the books for crimes like possession of alcohol by a minor.

Other metro Atlanta cities, including Atlanta itself, have lowered the penalties for possession of an ounce of less of marijuana.

On July 1, Georgia joined 33 other states in legalizing medical marijuana. Georgia's new law also sets up a commission that oversees the industry and licensing of private companies that produce the oil. It would also license pharmacies and companies to sell the THC cannabis oil to patients.

The bill does not legalize the overall use of recreational marijuana in Georgia.