Mayor Francis Slay signed into law a bill which allows St. Louis City Police Officers the ability to issue marijuana cases to municipal court.

Currently, under state law, a first time offense for under 35 grams is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1000 fine. This new law makes the offense a criminal infraction under the municipal code. The new penalty under the city ordinance would be a fine of $100-$500.

The law will go into effect on June 1, 2013.