Starting today, anyone apprehended in Philadelphia with about an ounce of marijuana or less could see the charges downgraded to a summary offense. But daily “smokers” shouldn’t get too excited about the news.

If you’re caught with a small amount of marijuana, defined as 30 grams or less, you will still be arrested, brought into jail and fingerprinted. Only at the preliminary hearing will procedures be changing. Many cases, likely several thousand per year, will be “diverted”, but it won’t be automatic. To qualify for diverting, the offense must be a standalone offense. Violators will be ordered to take a class, pay a $200 fine and any record would then be expunged.

It should be a tremendous savings to the court system, greatly reducing police testimony, public defenders and documentation. Some reasons for withholding leniency for pot possession include attempting to sell, being caught during a serious crime, and having a criminal record.

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