Title:
NC: Penalty reduction for personal possession to be debated
Message:
Yesterday, North Carolina State Representatives, Kelly Alexander, Jr .
(D – Mecklenburg) and Larry Hall (D – Durham), introduced legislation
decriminalizing possession of less than an ounce of marijuana! Please e-mail your representative today
and ask that he or she support HB 324.
HB 324
would downgrade simple possession to an infraction, instead of a misdemeanor.
It would also reduce penalties for possessing up to an ounce of marijuana from
either a suspended sentence (for persons with no priors who possess under half an
ounce of marijuana) or possible jail time to a civil fine of up to $100.
HB 324 could easily save North Carolina millions in law
enforcement costs while raising revenue through collection of the $100
civil
infraction. In addition, it will end the heavy-handed punishment of
marking individuals as criminals in their records for possession of
marijuana, a mark that
can prevent individuals from getting jobs and qualifying for assistance
programs.
Please
e-mail your representative today. Also,
feel free to pass this along to your friends and family so they can advocate
for sensible marijuana policy, too.
