NASHVILLE (AP) — Nashville District Attorney General Glenn Funk announced on Wednesday that his office will no longer prosecute individuals for possession of less than a half-ounce of marijuana.

"Marijuana charges do little to promote public health, and even less to promote public safety," Funk's office said in a statement explaining the decision.

The new policy will benefit people who would otherwise have to deal with criminal charges and possible jail time with corresponding negative consequences to their employment and housing. Charges for minor marijuana offenses disproportionately impact minorities, the statement said, citing demographic statistics.

Under Tennessee law, possession of a half-ounce of marijuana or less is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

The change is also expected to decrease court and jail costs. Funk's office said the resources going toward prosecuting minor marijuana offenses "must be devoted to supporting victims and prosecuting violent crime."

Both Nashville and Memphis tried to ease criminal punishment for marijuana possession in 2016 by authorizing police to issue a civil citation for a $50 fine or community service to someone caught with a half-ounce or less. The move was met with a backlash from the Republican supermajority General Assembly, which banned cities from issuing civil citations for marijuana possession the following year.

Nashville Mayor John Cooper said in a statement Wednesday that he supported Funk's decision.

"We need to continue working to ensure that people have access to drug treatment and that we are doing everything we can to keep nonviolent young people out of the criminal justice system," Cooper said.