Macon-Bibb County, GA Public Conduct: Public Marijuana Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code Sec. 16-9, adopted 2019
- Threshold
- Less than one ounce of marijuana
- Maximum fine
- $75.00, no jail time
- Applies
- County-wide, public or private
- Related section
- Sec. 16-10(d), presence where used
Summary
Macon-Bibb County decriminalized small-quantity marijuana possession: under County Code Sec. 16-9, possessing less than one ounce anywhere in the county, including in public, draws only a citation and a fine capped at $75, with no jail time authorized for that offense.
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess less than one ounce of marijuana within the geographic limits of Macon-Bibb County. Any person found guilty of violating this Section may be punished by a fine not to exceed seventy-five dollars ($75.00), and shall not be punished by imprisonment for any term.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Comprehensive Land Development Resolution: Supplement 4 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
" Because the section applies "within the geographic limits of Macon-Bibb County" rather than singling out private premises, it is the provision deputies and Macon-Bibb police use to cite someone found possessing or using marijuana in a public place, park, sidewalk, or vehicle, distinct from Georgia's state marijuana statute, which still permits jail time for possession under state law. " Both sections were adopted by Ordinance No. O-19-0031 in 2019, reflecting the county's local decriminalization ordinance layered on top of, but not replacing, state marijuana law.
Violations & Fines
A citation under Section 16-9 goes to Macon-Bibb Municipal Court; the maximum penalty is a $75.00 fine, and the ordinance expressly bars any jail sentence for a violation limited to possessing or using under one ounce. Amounts of one ounce or more, or a stop that also triggers a state charge, remain outside this local cap and are handled under Georgia law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be arrested for smoking marijuana in public in Macon-Bibb County?
Does Macon-Bibb's marijuana fine apply county-wide?
What if I'm caught where marijuana is being used, but not carrying it myself?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Macon-Bibb County
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