New Orleans Decriminalizes Marijuana Use

New Orleans has approved measures to end penalties for simple marijuana possession.

The New Orleans City Council passed several items to decriminalize cannabis and to pardon about 10,000 cannabis-related convictions, Nola.com reported.

Officials claim the new law is aimed at helping the community gain trust with city police as well as allowing the police to focus on reducing violent crime.

The City Council doesn’t have the authority to legalize recreational cannabis, so instead it decriminalized it.

Smoking marijuana will still be prohibited in public areas, but it’ll be a ticketed violation of the smoke-free air act instead of as a drug offense.