Law will ease penalties for marijuana possession

Gov. Jack Markell has signed into law legislation decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Markell signed the bill Thursday shortly after it passed the Democrat-controlled Senate on a party-line vote. The measure also received no Republican support earlier when it passed the Democratic-led House.

The law, which takes effect in six months, keeps simple possession of marijuana a criminal offense for anyone under 18 but eliminates criminal penalties for possession by an adult of 1 ounce or less for personal use. Instead, it would be a civil offense punishable by a $100 fine. Public use would still be punishable as a misdemeanor and could result in fines of up to $200 or imprisonment for up to five days.