A Georgia resident puts on an "I'm a Georgia Voter" sticker as she votes during Georgia's primary election at the polling station at South Lowndes Recreation Complex in Lake Park, Ga., on March 1, 2016. (Andrew Harnik, AP)

This Georgia city might become the state’s first to decriminalize cannabis

Published: • Updated:

By The Associated Press

CLARKSTON, Ga. — The leaders of an Atlanta suburb may try to make their city the first in Georgia to decriminalize marijuana.

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Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry told news outlets recently that he wants the possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana to be treated like a traffic ticket.

Terry says the City Council’s public safety committee this month will review the proposal and he expects the full council to bring it to a vote as early as May.

He says his city is prepared to argue that state laws do not take precedence over local ordinances in cases of low-level drug offenses.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations declined to comment on the proposal.

WSB-TV reports that Clarkston police arrested 70 people last year for having 1 ounce or less of marijuana.