Governor Mary Fallin has signed legislation into law decreasing criminal penalties for certain marijuana violations.
House Bill 2479 reduces sentencing guidelines involving a second marijuana related offense from a maximum penalty of up to ten years in prison to no more than five. It also reduces the existing mandatory minimum penalty from two years in prison to one year.
While NORML acknowledges that these amended criminal penalties for responsible, marijuana-related activity are a disproportionate public policy response to behavior that is, at worst, a public health concern, these sentencing reforms represent a minor step forward.
The new sentencing guidelines take effect on November 1, 2016.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns
