Tagged With: Decriminalization
Hawaii: Legislature Once Again Faces Decriminalization Measure
Senate lawmakers are once again considering legislation to decriminalize the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by adults. Senate Bill 16 will decriminalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. It also creates a civil penalty for both open possession and possession on school property. According to an analysis of 2010 marijuana … Continue reading
Wyoming: Marijuana Decriminalization Measure Introduced
Wyoming State Rep. Mark Baker has introduced HB 157 to decriminalize the possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana. Baker’s bill is more robust than previous year’s legislation and marks a shift in attitude among state lawmakers. More than 70% of Wyoming residents support decriminalization. Currently under state law, first-time marijuana possession offenses are … Continue reading
New Hampshire: This Is Likely The Year For Decriminalization
After nearly a decade of frustration, 2017 may finally be the year that New Hampshire voters successfully see marijuana possession decriminalized. Forthcoming legislation to amend criminal penalties for marijuana possession is pending in the House, where lawmakers have overwhelmingly supported such efforts for eight years in a row. However, legislators this year are hopeful that, … Continue reading
Kansas City: NORML Chapter’s Decriminalization Effort Qualifies For City Ballot
Petitioners seeking to decriminalize municipal penalties specific to the possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana have gathered sufficient signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot, a representative from the Kansas City Clerk’s office confirmed today. The proposal, spearheaded by Kansas City NORML, amends citywide penalties from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil … Continue reading
Texas: Lawmakers Pre-File Marijuana Decriminalization Legislation
Legislation has been pre-filed for the 2017 legislative session to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. House Bill 81, filed by Representative Joe Moody and cosponsored by Representative Jason Isaac, seeks to amend state law so that possessing up to one ounce of marijuana is a civil violation, punishable by a fine – … Continue reading
Michigan: Marijuana Decriminalization Measures Pending
Newly introduced legislation, Senate Joint Resolution 0, seeks to ask voters in an upcoming election whether to remove criminal and civil penalties for marijuana possession. If enacted, passage of the measure would make marijuana possession laws void. Senate lawmakers are also considering more conventional legislation, Senate Bill 80, to decriminalize minor marijuana possession offenses, replacing … Continue reading
Wisconsin: Marijuana Decriminalization Measure Never Considered
Legislation to depenalize the possession and cultivation of limited quantities of marijuana in Wisconsin was never considered by members of both the House and Senate this legislative session. Assembly Bill 246 would have eliminated, “1) the penalty for possession of marijuana if the amount of marijuana involved is no more than 25 grams; 2) the penalty … Continue reading
Illinois: Governor Signs Marijuana Decriminalization Measure
Governor Bruce Rauner has signed legislation, Senate Bill 2228 into law amending the state’s marijuana possession penalties. The new law reduces the penalties for the possession of up to 10 grams of marijuana from a criminal misdemeanor (formerly punishable by up to six months in jail and a $ 1,500 fine) to a civil fine … Continue reading
Wyoming: House Lawmakers Reject Marijuana Decriminalization Measure
House lawmakers have voted against legislation (HB 3) to depenalize marijuana possession offenses. House Bill 3 sought to replace criminal sanctions involving the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana with a civil fine of no more than $ 100 — no arrest and no criminal record. House lawmakers voted against the measure 37 to 21. … Continue reading
Virginia: Lawmakers Table Marijuana Decriminalization Measures
House and Senate lawmakers have set aside legislation that sought to eliminates criminal penalties for marijuana possession offenses, replacing them with civil fine-only penalties — no arrest and no criminal record. On February 3rd, Senate Bill 104, was passed by indefinitely by the Courts of Justice Committee in an 11-4 vote. The committee failed to take … Continue reading
