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2019 SESSION

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HB 2370 Marijuana; possession and consumption, penalty.

Introduced by: Charniele L. Herring | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Possession and consumption of marijuana; penalty. Decriminalizes simple marijuana possession and provides a civil penalty of no more than $250. Current law imposes a maximum fine of $500 and a maximum 30-day jail sentence for a first offense, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. But the bill provides that any person who knowingly or intentionally smokes, consumes, or otherwise ingests marijuana in a public place or while driving or operating a motor vehicle, engine, train, watercraft, or motorboat is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be confined in jail not more than 30 days and fined not more than $500, either or both, and subsequent convictions are punished as a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also provides that the suspended sentence/substance abuse screening provisions and driver's license suspension provisions apply only to criminal violations or to civil violations by a juvenile. A civil violation will be treated as a conviction for prohibitions on the purchase or transport of a handgun and disqualification for a concealed handgun permit.


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