Lawmakers in Arkansas, California and Nevada are backing legislation to minimize penalties for the simple possession of marijuana.
In Nevada, Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani (D-Las Vegas) is expected to reintroduce legislation imminently that would reduce penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana from a felony (punishable by up to four years in jail) to a misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 fine. Last year, the Nevada Supreme Court’s Judicial Assessment Commission made a similar recommendation, noting that Nevada is the only state that treats minor marijuana offenses as felonies.
Earlier this week, Arkansas state Sen. John Riggs (D-Little Rock) introduced S.B. 861 to reduce penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana from a misdemeanor to a non-criminal violation. The bill would also expunge the criminal records of those individuals previously convicted of minor marijuana offenses. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to debate the proposal tomorrow.
In California, Sen. Bruce McPherson (R-Santa Cruz) recently introduced legislation downgrading possession of one ounce or less of marijuana from a criminal fine to an “infraction.” The maximum penalty under his proposal would be a $100 fine, the same as under current law.
For more information, please contact R. Keith Stroup, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500. For more information on these bills and other pending marijuana-law reform legislation, visit: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/.
