House Committee Passes Bill To Regulate Penalties Concerning Marijuana Possession

A House committee passed a bill Tuesday that would make the penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana uniform across state.   

“This bill would move all marijuana charges under 1.5 ounces to a $400 fine,” said Rep. Jon Echols, R-Majority Floor Leader.

House Bill 2614 would make the law more uniform, so the punishment for possessing a small amount of marijuana would be the same throughout the state.  

“We have to have a dictate all across the state because law enforcement in different counties and different cities, they don’t know which way to go,” said Norma Sapp, a medical marijuana advocate.

“You know when you have a bill like this than really decriminalizes small amounts of marijuana with the will of the voters, and it’s supported by law enforcement. I think this is going to be a great bill. We’re doing big stuff at the Capitol and I think this will sail through,” Echols said.

Partial proceeds from House Bill 2416 would go toward putting deputies into the retirement system. It now goes to the state House floor.