Marijuana; possession and consumption, penalty. (HB2370)

Introduced By

Del. Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

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. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/08/2019Committee
01/08/2019Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/19 19104173D
01/08/2019Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/15/2019Assigned Courts sub: Subcommittee #1
01/16/2019Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (5-Y 3-N)
02/05/2019Left in Courts of Justice