Kansas City, Mo., Voters Approve $25 Fine In Easing Of Marijuana Law

By Bill Chappell

Published April 5, 2017 at 6:39 AM CDT

Courts in Kansas City, Mo., can impose a maximum fine of $25 for possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana, after voters embraced a ballot initiative Tuesday. Here, three grams of marijuana is displayed.

Updated at 10:25 a.m. ET

Missouri deems marijuana possession a crime that carries hundreds of dollars in fines and a potential jail term. But residents of Kansas City voted overwhelmingly to reduce the penalties there, becoming the latest city in the state to relax punishments for people caught with small amounts of pot.

Nearly 75 percent of voters approved the ballot initiative, Question 5, in Tuesday's special election. The pot measure was considered alongside infrastructure issues and candidates for school district posts.

From member station KCUR, reporter Lisa Rodriguez says:

"Question 5 reduces the fine for being caught with 35 grams or less of marijuana to $25 and eliminates the possibility [of] jail time. Current Missouri penalties for the same amount of marijuana include possible incarceration and fines up to $500.

"Columbia ... and St. Louis have passed similar ordinances."

Under Missouri law, possession of up to 10 grams of marijuana is a misdemeanor, and possession of more than 35 grams — nearly 1.25 ounces — is a felony. Kansas City's new maximum punishments will apply to its municipal court system.

Rodriguez notes that city leaders have said they're concerned that while Question 5 relaxes penalties, the social stigma and legal ramifications of having a drug-related offense on one's record will remain — something that could cause problems in dealing with everything from employers to state and federal laws.