[420 Girl]

Chicopee, MA - The City Council will study a proposed ordinance that would add local fines on top of the $100 state fine for anyone caught with an ounce or less of marijuana.

The council on Tuesday sent the proposal to its Ordinance Committee for a public hearing. The order was sponsored by At-large councilors Robert J. Zygarowski and James K. Tillotson.

The new ordinance would allow local police to issue additional fines for people who are caught smoking marijuana in a public place. The local fines would be $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense and $300 for all subsequent violations.

The new state marijuana law took effect on Jan. 2 after voters statewide approved a ballot question that decriminalized possession of an ounce or less of marijuana.

"I think we're being proactive with this," Tillotson said. "I don't think it's a major problem in Chicopee right now."

In March, the Springfield City Council approved a similar ordinance. Last month, Town Meeting voters in Ludlow approved a bylaw prohibiting the consumption of marijuana in public places.

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