Clarkston Reduces Marijuana Possession Penalties

Clarkston, GA -- Possessing small amounts of marijuana is no longer an automatic arrest in Clarkston.

On Tuesday, the city council voted to reduce the punishment for those found to be in possession of one ounce or less of the drug to a $75 fine and no arrest.

The city also raised its own municipal minimum wage, according to 11Alive, from Georgia's official rate of $5.15 an hour to $15 an hour. That's nearly twice the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

It also made election day a half-day holiday in the city.

Clarkston has come under national focus over the last year. In December 2015, a rundown condominium complex inside the city limits, Brannen Hill, gained national attention for its harsh conditions, and was christened as possibly the worst community in America by the Deen Media Center.

Brannen Hill is home to about 400 refugees, mainly from Somalia, who have settled there due to the proximity of a nearby immigrant community.

Also last December, an organization known as Conservative America named Clarkston as one of 18 terrorist sanctuary cities.

The organization also criticized Clarkston Mayor Edward Terry for saying that his city is willing to accept more refugees from the Middle East and Africa.

See also:

• DeKalb City Called a Top Terrorist Sanctuary
• DeKalb Community Called 'Worst in America'