Marijuana Policy Project

This bill converts certain possession-of-marijuana offenses under state law from misdemeanors into civil offenses. Under the bill, if a person possesses or attempts to possess 25 grams or less of marijuana, the person may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000. Existing criminal penalties, however, still apply if: 1) the person has previously been found to have committed a civil possession-of-marijuana offense under state law; 2) the person has previously been convicted of a separate controlled substance crime; or 3) the person has previously been convicted of a felony.

Similarly, for juveniles, the bill converts possession or an attempt to possess 25 grams or less of marijuana from a delinquent act into a civil law violation, which is punishable by suspension of the juvenile’s operating privilege for not less than six months nor more than five years and by a forfeiture of not more than $50 or the juvenile’s participation in community service work or both. Existing delinquency dispositions, however, still apply if the juvenile has previously been found to have possessed or attempted to possess 25 grams or less of marijuana, been convicted of or adjudicated delinquent for a separate controlled substance crime, or been convicted of or adjudicated delinquent for a felony.