KALAMAZOO (WKZO) — Kalamazoo City Officials decriminalized possession of less than an ounce of marijuana on their own, and it could be just the first of a number of violations that could be decriminalized in the next year or so.
Monday night they approved a gateway ordinance to make it possible.
Right now they say a lot of ordinance violations, like noisy parties, noisy car radios, noisy pets are misdemeanors. Its part of a poverty initiative to prevent criminal records from ruining lives.
Attorney Clyde Robinson says the public will get a voice in what happens. A public input process will be developed to determine which violations are decriminalized. Commissioners say it’s something that the public, poverty and civil rights groups have been requesting for years.
It will not only improve the lives of citizens, but cut court costs.
