GUYTON, Ga. () — The Guyton city attorney is finalizing an ordinance that would decriminalize marijuana use and possession of under one ounce in the city limits. 

The ordinance is spearheaded by Councilman Theodore Hamby.

“If you go to court over it now, and you have less than an ounce, you’re going to jail. To me, I don’t think that’s right,” Hamby told News 3.

This ordinance would introduce a “three strikes you’re out” system with three levels of fines. 

“The first one is $250. The second is $500. The third is $800. You know… just kind of really deterring,” Hamby explained.

This only applies to people who have under an ounce on them. Anything greater is still a felony. 

Hamby says after those three strikes, the offender has the option of rehab or a treatment facility. He hopes this trickles down through the rest of Effingham County.

He says taxpayers and police will benefit as well. 

“As a taxpayer, you’re now paying for [the offender] to be housed in jail. You’re paying for medical, food and transportation. I mean, what this ordinance does is it frees up the officer’s time to focus on the real things that are impacting Guyton,” Hamby said. “Fentanyl is a big issue in Effingham County. You take marijuana out of it, and you let officers focus on what they need to focus on.”

According to Hamby, the feedback has been mostly positive and respectful, but there is chatter on social media.

A citizen, who wanted to remain anonymous, said this is a personal agenda, and they feel the city could focus on other issues.

“The real story behind this is… this city wasted time and money for lawyers and everything else to go through this,” they said.

When asked about this, Hamby said, “This is not a personal agenda item, and I do not smoke marijuana.”

That citizen also argued that this threatens public safety and could encourage young people to use recreationally.

“The other issue that I have is the encouragement to the first-time person under peer pressure…  even just experimenting, because a slap on the wrist or not, let me try it,” they said.

Hamby said this ordinance will not increase the number of teen users and is a safeguard for them and their future.

“Once you have that misdemeanor, criminal offense, it’s hard to get a job now. You can’t apply for FAFSA, essentially. So if you’re 16 or 17 years old, and you get caught with it, this ordinance really kind of says you’re just going to be able to live your life, but you’re gonna pay a fine. You won’t go to jail. You pay a citation,” Hamby said. “To me, I think overall, it does more. This performance will do more good in place than it would if it was not in place at all.”

Residents can weigh in and hear the ordinance in full at a public hearing set for April 27 at 7 p.m. at the Guyton Gymnasium.