Illegal possession of marijuana in Doylestown Borough now costs lawbreakers $25, thanks to a legal revision reducing the penalty. In comparison, the fine for growing illegal bamboo is a whopping $600. The pros and cons of this new policy toward pot currently reverberate throughout the community, reports Shawnette Wilson for FOX29 News. 

Two lines of thought surround the move. 

One side sees advantages in clearing court dockets, prioritizing police resources and helping youth expunge their records from a blot with long-term implications. 

The other sees it as tacit permission to smoke weed, especially for teens. 

Diane Rosati of the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission monitors the move from a professional standpoint. She worries that people who need help getting clean or making better decisions may no longer get help.  

Borough Councilman Joseph Frederick understands the viewpoint but disagrees about the implications.  

“We’re not telling kids now you can go out on the corners and smoke pot and nothing will happen to you,” he said. 

Law enforcement numbers in Doylestown Borough also indicate that this might not have been a problem in need of solving.

The highest number of adults arrested for pot possession was 18 in 2017.

The number of 2020 juvenile arrests was four. 

More on this controversial move in Doylestown is at FOX29 News.