North Dakota Senate Rejects Bill to Lower Marijuana Possession Penalties
The North Dakota Senate recently voted against House Bill 1596, which aimed to slightly reduce penalties for possessing and ingesting marijuana in the state. The bill would have lowered criminal charges associated with marijuana possession by one class, but it was ultimately struck down with a 14-32 vote.
Supporters of the bill argued that reducing penalties for marijuana possession would alleviate the burden on the state’s court system, which has been overloaded with drug-related offenses. However, opponents, including Sen. Diane Larson, emphasized the importance of upholding existing laws to keep communities safe.
Under the proposed changes in the bill, adults over 21 found with small amounts of marijuana would have faced non-criminal citations instead of criminal charges. The penalties for possession and ingestion of marijuana concentrates would also have been reduced.
Despite the efforts to revise marijuana laws in North Dakota, the Senate’s decision to reject the bill means that punishments for marijuana possession will remain unchanged in the state.
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