Mayor Reed signs Atlanta's marijuana legislation

ATLANTA - Mayor Kasim Reed has approved Atlanta's marijuana bill to ease penalties for anyone caught by police with less than one ounce of the drug.

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Reed shared a photo of himself signing the legislation into law on Twitter and Facebook Wednesday morning. 

"Pleased to sign the marijuana legislation last night at 6:24 p.m.," Reed said. 

Last week, the Atlanta City Council voted unanimously to reduce the penalty for marijuana possession from a jail penalty to a fine for anyone caught by police with less than one ounce of the drug.

City Councilman Kwanza Hall, who sponsored the measure, said the vote passed 15-0. Under the law, a violator would be subject to a citation that carries a $75 fine and no jail time. The previous penalty was a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail.

Mayor Reed announced he had approved the legislation after a brief Twitter dispute early Wednesday morning. It started shortly after 5 a.m. with an Atlanta City Council tweet stating they had received an email that the mayor had vetoed the marijuana bill. Then, about 45 minutes later, Atlanta City Council "recalled" the tweet and said the mayor did not veto the marijuana legislation. 

Mayor Reed responded by calling it a "political stunt." 

"It's political season," Reed said. "That is just another political stunt by Ceaser Mitchell." 

Mitchell, a 2017 Atlanta mayoral candidate, serves as the Atlanta City Council President. 

The City Council later said the mayor's veto email was regarding the sale of a portion of land to Hapeville.