Legislation to depenalize marijuana possession offenses was never acted on this legislative session.
House Bill 4021 would have removed cannabis from the Florida state schedule of controlled substances and removed all state criminal and civil penalties associated with the substance.
“We have a lot of people in prison for drug charges and non-violent charges, and I think it’s the wrong way to go about controlling drugs,” the bill’s sponsor said.
Florida ranks among the highest in the nation in marijuana possession arrests. Police annually arrest some 60,000 Floridians for possessing marijuana. Those found in possession of under 20 grams face up to one-year in prison while those found with greater quantities face a felony conviction and up to five years imprisonment.
Fifty-five percent of Florida voters say that they support allowing adults “to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use,” according to 2015 survey data published by Quinnipiac University.
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National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns
