With a 4-3 vote Monday, the Orlando City Council adopted a revised measure that essentially decriminalizes possessing 20 grams or less of marijuana and gives police officers discretion to issue civil citations instead of arresting people.

The new measure doesn’t go into effect until later this year on Oct. 1.

The measure makes the first-degree misdemeanor marijuana possession a violation of city code. At the council’s request, city staff amended the proposal by increasing citation fines and adding a diversion program. The revised version now makes possessing 20 grams or less of marijuana a “Class II” violation, with a $100 fine for the first offense, $200 for the second offense and a mandatory court appearance for the third offense, says assistant city attorney Kyle Shephard.

The proposal also creates a substance abuse diversionary program that allows people who receive citations to do eight hours of community service or eight hours of substance abuse education instead of paying the fine. The revenue collected from fines would support substance abuse education.

Florida law currently penalizes possession of small amounts of pot with one year of jail time, up to a $1,000 fine, probation and a criminal record. [Read more at the Orlando Weekly]