(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

(Chippewa Township, PA) Chippewa Township has finally passed their Marijuana Decriminalization Ordinance 261 that we spoke about earlier this year. Under the ordinance, possessing a small amount of marijuana, 30 grams or less, or 8 grams of hashish, will now be treated as a summary offense, resulting in a $300 ticket rather than a criminal charge. The ordinance also applies to paraphernalia. Chippewa is the first township in the state to pass an ordinance of this kind. The driving factor behind the ordinance is that the police face issues involving hours of paperwork and overtime pay to officers for marijuana related offenses. This ordinance will apply mainly to first time offenders, those who are caught with marijuana on multiple occasions will still face the risk of a criminal charge.