Local ordinances to decriminalize weed are catching hold, but not all are successful as their home states attempt to enforce far stricter laws.

Local ordinances to decriminalize weed are catching hold, but not all are successful as their home states attempt to enforce far stricter laws.

DALLAS (1080 KRLD) – In Dallas, being caught with some marijuana may not mean a trip to jail anymore.

DALLAS (1080 KRLD) – In Dallas, being caught with some marijuana may not mean a trip to jail anymore.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis City Council has voted to pass an ordinance that will reduce the severity of carrying a small amount of marijuana.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis City Council has voted to pass an ordinance that will reduce the severity of carrying a small amount of marijuana.

Nashville, which residents often refer to as the Buckle of the Bible Belt, may be on the cusp of joining the long roster of American cities that have decriminalized cannabis.

Nashville, which residents often refer to as the Buckle of the Bible Belt, may be on the cusp of joining the long roster of American cities that have decriminalized cannabis.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Marijuana possession in small amounts in Illinois will be punishable by fines but not jail time after Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation Friday that makes the state the third largest to decriminalize minor pot offenses.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Marijuana possession in small amounts in Illinois will be punishable by fines but not jail time after Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation Friday that makes the state the third largest to decriminalize minor pot offenses.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A group supportive of the push to decriminalize marijuana in Nashville took to the streets downtown.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A group supportive of the push to decriminalize marijuana in Nashville took to the streets downtown.

Call it a victory for pot-smoking in a college town.

Call it a victory for pot-smoking in a college town.

Organizers are closing in on their goal of collecting 2,300 signatures to get marijuana decriminalization on the November ballot in Kansas City.

Organizers are closing in on their goal of collecting 2,300 signatures to get marijuana decriminalization on the November ballot in Kansas City.

Kansas City voters on Tuesday decided to lower penalties in city court for people caught with small amounts of marijuana.

Kansas City voters on Tuesday decided to lower penalties in city court for people caught with small amounts of marijuana.

Wichita residents will likely get another chance at a ballot initiative to lower the penalty for small-time possession of marijuana.

Wichita residents will likely get another chance at a ballot initiative to lower the penalty for small-time possession of marijuana.

Texans who are arrested for possessing small amounts of marijuana shouldn’t be locked out of jobs and haunted by minor lapses in judgment for the rest of their lives, business and legislative leaders say.

Marijuana reform may not be on the ballot in Tennessee on Election Day, but the state is making strides in changing their cannabis laws nonetheless.

Marijuana reform may not be on the ballot in Tennessee on Election Day, but the state is making strides in changing their cannabis laws nonetheless.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The city of Nashville became the first in the state of Tennessee to lessen the penalty for small amounts of marijuana Tuesday night.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The city of Nashville became the first in the state of Tennessee to lessen the penalty for small amounts of marijuana Tuesday night.

Starting Wednesday (June 22), simple possession of marijuana in New Orleans will carry far fewer consequences for repeat offenders.

Perhaps the best way to avoid another large marijuana-party raid such as the one that took place in Philadelphia on Saturday is to legalize marijuana altogether at the state level, Mayor Jim Kenney said Monday.

Perhaps the best way to avoid another large marijuana-party raid such as the one that took place in Philadelphia on Saturday is to legalize marijuana altogether at the state level, Mayor Jim Kenney said Monday.

CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- As many as 300 people gathered Thursday to smoke pot on Eakins Oval, calling it a celebration of the 2nd anniversary of marijuana decriminalization in Philadelphia.

BOSTON (AP) -- Having proven they can win in the West, advocates for recreational marijuana hope the Nov. 8 election brings their first significant electoral victories in the densely populated Northeast, where voters in Massachusetts and Maine will consider making pot legal for all adults.

BOSTON (AP) -- Having proven they can win in the West, advocates for recreational marijuana hope the Nov. 8 election brings their first significant electoral victories in the densely populated Northeast, where voters in Massachusetts and Maine will consider making pot legal for all adults.

When his city was hit with a rash of homicides and violent gun crimes in 2012, Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney Anton Bell said he took a hard look at the kinds of cases his office was working.

When his city was hit with a rash of homicides and violent gun crimes in 2012, Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney Anton Bell said he took a hard look at the kinds of cases his office was working.

Beyond the potential tax revenue that could be coming to states across the country, how will the spread of legalized cannabis affect the American landscape?