The North Dakota House of Representatives has approved a bill to decriminalize low-level marijuana possession, reducing the offense to a civil citation punishable by a fine of up to $150.
Members on Monday voted 76-17 to pass the legislation from lead sponsor Rep. Liz Conmy (D), sending it to the Senate for consideration. This comes about a week after the measure moved through the Judiciary Committee.
While North Dakota in 2019 adopted what advocacy groups refer to as a marijuana decriminalization law that removed the risk of jail time for possessing under a half-ounce of cannabis, possession nevertheless technically remains a criminal infraction and carries a fine of up to $1,000.
The new bill would make simple possession of up to half an ounce of marijuana a citation and adjust a number other possession penalties: Having between half an ounce and 100 grams would be a criminal infraction, having between 100 and 500 grams would become a class B misdemeanor and having over 500 grams would be a class A misdemeanor.
“Right now, the lowest charges [for possession] are an infraction—but it involves three court dates, an initial appearance, pre-trial appearance and the trial,” Rep. Steve Vetter (R) said on the floor
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