By Miica Patterson
(MDN News) -- People caught with small amounts of marijuana in Columbia usually only face a small fine. Now a trio of Democratic state lawmakers wants to make that the case for all of Missouri.
Three House members, including Columbia Rep. Chris Kelly, introduced legislation Thursday, Feb. 7, that would decrease the current penalties for marijuana possession of 35 grams or less.
Like Columbia's ordinance, the House bill would punish possession of less than 35 grams with a fine of no more than $250 and a suspended sentence. Suspended sentences allow a conviction to be erased from a person's record if they pay their fines, follow orders from the court and stay out of legal trouble for a set period of time.
Missouri's current law states possession for that amount of marijuana is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Kelly, who is co-sponsoring the bill, said as a Boone County judge he heard hundreds of misdemeanor cases involving marijuana. Many university students receive convictions for lesser crimes, which keep them from better careers and a better life, he said.
"It's serious, but it shouldn't cloud a person's life forever," Kelly said. "At some point, society ought to let people up and let them go back to being productive citizens."
Rep. Kathie Conway, the vice-chairwoman of the House Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee, said she fears that lighter penalties could mean more people driving under the influence of the drug.
"I'm not sure I want to put another chemical out there and it's just a slap on the wrist, until we have a better way of detecting it," said Conway, R-St. Charles.
No comments:
Post a Comment