On Wednesday, Santa Fe became the first city in New Mexico to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

In a 5-4 vote, the Santa Fe City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday night that will effectively decriminalize possession of under an ounce of marijuana in order to avoid the costs of putting the issue up for a vote on a general ballot in November.

Although it's not clear when the measure will go into effect, the ordinance would make possession of an ounce or less of marijuana a civil infraction, which is punishable by a fine of up to $25.

Previously, those caught in possession of an ounce or less of pot in Santa Fe were charged with a petty misdemeanor for the first offense and punished with a $50 to $100 fine, plus up to 15 days in jail.

According to the Councilors who voted in the majority, "the will of the people was clear from the high number of signatures collected and that it was smart to change a policy that had ruined so many lives," reports KOB 4.

Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales issued a statement praising the historic vote, saying, "I'm proud of the City of Santa Fe tonight for continuing to be a leader in forward-thinking policy that improves the lives of citizens."

On Aug. 18, it was announced that pro-marijuana activists had submitted enough valid voter signatures to force a public vote on the issue.

"I don't think that by supporting this there's going to be many more potheads," said City Councilor Carmichael Dominguez, who voted in favor of adopting the ordinance, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper.

"The real reason I'm in support of this is because I've seen what incarceration does on a firsthand level," he added.