Pot Possession Decriminalization Rejected in Kansas City

The Kansas City Council has rejected a measure to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

The Kansas City Star reports that Councilman Brandon Ellington initially proposed decriminalized possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana. An amendment instead allowed offenders to plead guilty, face a fine and have their record expunged after 180 days.

The proposals would have applied only to municipal marijuana offenses. County prosecutors can also bring marijuana charges, though Jackson County no longer takes up those cases.

Ellington didn’t support the new version, which failed Thursday on a 5-6 vote. Ellington said he was told that a municipal marijuana arrest record is forwarded onto the state, meaning expunging it on the local level would still leave a state record. He plans to reintroduce his original plan.