DES MOINES – Punishment for the possession of the illegal narcotic marijuana would less severe if a bill keeps progressing through the Iowa legislature.
On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-1 to approve a bill that would make possession of five grams or less of marijuana a simple misdemeanor. The bill would reduce maximum jail time from 6 months to 30 days, while the maximum fine would be reduced from $1,000 to $620. First-offense possession of marijuana is a serious misdemeanor in Iowa at this time.
Democratic Senator Steven Sodders of Marshall county, who happens to be a sheriff’s deputy, said “We’re talking about very small amounts of marijuana possession. In my experience, a lot of these are basically scrapings out of a pot pipe.”
The passing of the bill might lessen the load on Iowa courts and allow law enforcement to concentrate on more serious crimes.
“This is just another effort to try to look at alternatives to incarceration,” Sodders explained. “This is a smart on crime measure that helps ensure our limited law enforcement resources are more available to pursue violent criminals.”
3 thoughts on “Senate committee votes for lower penalties for possession of marijuana”
I could go along with this. They are going nothing now except running up the bill and solving nothing. Go after the dealers not the poor sap to stupid to stay off drugs. They don’t pay their fines and can’t get a job so they just clog up the court system and jails. Of course the pot users still won’t be able toget a job because the insurance company’s will not let them work if they are under the influence. I don’t blame them as the doppers will just wreck equipment, scrap product and be a…
Meant “doing nothing”. And be a danger to other employees.
I hope this passes. Lets make some room in the Iowa jails for the scum bags who are repeat offenders and people who commit violent crimes.