House to hear bill to decriminalize marijuana

House republican John Fillmore from Apache Junction has introduced several bills covering the use of marijuana and protecting medical marijuana dispensaries.

House Bill 2044 would reduce the possession of one-ounce or less to a petty offense. The bill passed through the Judicial and Rules committee and had its second read on January 10.

The bill would change Subsection B of 13-3405 to add a Paragraph 1 to read, “Subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section involving an amount of marijuana not possessed for sale having a weight of one ounce or less is guilty of a petty offense and, notwithstanding section 13‑802, the person shall pay a fine of not more than four hundred dollars.”

13-802 provides, “A sentence to pay a fine for a petty offense shall be a sentence to pay an amount, fixed by the court, of not more than three hundred dollars.” The change would allow a fine up to one hundred dollars more.

The bill does not make the use of marijuana legal for recreational purposes.
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