Data indicates that 4,716 adults were arrested in 2008 on the singular criminal misdemeanor charge of Marijuana possession - less than 30 grams. In Philadelphia such arrests are required to be custodial. For even a single cannabis joint this means an offender must be handcuffed, transported to a holding cell, photographed and perhaps make bail before release. In every other county in Pennsylvania there is no mandate for the custodial arrest of citizens found with small amounts of marijuana. Instead, summary violations are issued along with a date to appear in court.

Philadelphia could save more than $3,000,000 annually by not taking pot smokers in for mugshots and conforming to the rest of the counties’ guidelines on the custodial portion of the misdemeanor charge.