Mayor of St. Louis repeals city ordinances making it illegal to possess small amounts of marijuana

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones has signed a recently passed bill that repeals city ordinances making it illegal to possess 35 grams or less of marijuana.  

The St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that Jones held a news conference on Monday before signing the bill.  

She said the repeal will reduce racial inconsistencies in policing, noting that 82% of people arrested in the city on marijuana-related charges in the past three years were Black.

The measure also states that the smell or presence of marijuana no longer can be sole probable cause for search and arrest. 

The bill also prohibits police from enforcing state and federal laws against possession of small amounts of marijuana with certain exceptions.