MORTONÂ â Council voted at a recent meeting to establish civil penalties for the possession of small amounts of marijuana as a minor public health violation. The amendment to the Chapter 6 of the Code of the Borough of Morton notes that the council has determined that the arrest, charging, and prosecution of individuals possessing small amounts of marijuana represents a substantial cost to taxpayers well as to law enforcement, prison, and court resources. Civil violation of the ordinance includes purchasing or attempting to purchase a small amount of marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia or smoking a small amount in any public space. However, any of these violations that take place within, or on the grounds of, any public library or any public or parochial elementary or secondary school shall be charged as criminal violations under the state criminal statutes.