TAMPA -- Possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana will soon be just a civil infraction in unincorporated Hillsborough County.
At their regular meeting, county commissioners voted 7-0 for an ordinance decriminalizing possession of small amounts of weed.
Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister spoke in favor of the ordinance, saying it will ensure "fair and equitable enforcement throughout the county."
First and second-time offenders would receive the citation, and those who violate a third or fourth time would be required to undergo drug testing and education. A fifth offense results in arrest and a trip through the criminal justice system.
The ordinance brings the county in sync with the city of Tampa, which enacted its decriminalization ordinance in 2016.
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