Senate Bill 337got lots of attention when Gov. Kasich signed last week. In fact, it’s considered a model nationally on how to remove barriers that keep reformed felons getting jobs.

But getting a lot less attention is the part of the bill that decriminalizes possession of most marijuana paraphernalia. It lessens that from a fourth-degree misdemeanor to a minor misdemeanor -- along the lines of most traffic tickets and charges like public intoxication.

The bill was sponsored by state senators Shirley Smith of Cleveland and Bill Seitz of Cincinnati, both of whom say it evens out an incongruity that most people don’t know exists in current law.  Sen. Smith:

 “You could get caught with paraphernalia that people use for marijuana, and get more time for the paraphernalia than you would for a small amount of marijuana.”

 That’s because Ohio law has said for years that possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana is a minor misdemeanor, which carries no possibility of prison time and a small fine. Someone convicted of a fourth-degree misdemeanor could spend up to 30 days in jail.

The bill goes into effect Sept. 28.