Under a new law that takes effect in late September, the possession of most pieces of marijuana paraphernalia will be decriminalized. Under the new law, offenses go from a  fourth-degree misdemeanor to a minor misdemeanor, similar to most traffic tickets and charges like public intoxication.

The bill was sponsored by state senators Bill Seitz of Cincinnati and Shirley Smith of Cleveland. “You could get caught with paraphernalia that people use for marijuana,” said Smith, “and get more time for the paraphernalia than you would for a small amount of marijuana.”

In Ohio possession of under 100 grams of marijuana is only a minor misdemeanor with no chance of jail time, but under current law someone caught with paraphernalia could get up to 30 days in jail.

Small, positive steps toward keeping cannabis users out of jail. All laws that reduce penalties for using marijuana are helpful. They all lead down the same road, the road to legalization.

- Joe Klare