(Richmond)- Soon, having a small amount of marijuana will no longer punishable by jail time. The General Assembly voted to decriminalize possession of marijuana and set a civil penalty of 25 dollars. Currently under state law, a half-ounce or less could result in 30 days in jail or a 500-dollar fine. That would save nearly thirty-thousand people in criminal convictions yearly. The legislation is on its way to Governor Northam’s desk and if he signs it, the law is effective July 1st.