cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Bill Altered, on Hold Marijuana Bill Altered, on Hold Posted by FoM on March 20, 2001 at 06:55:33 PT By Chris Osher, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette A provision that would have allowed for the expungement of any felony or misdemeanor originating from simple possession of marijuana after 1968 appeared headed for defeat Monday. But the rest of Senate Bill 861 by Sen. John Riggs, D-Little Rock, that would prohibit future felony convictions for possession of an ounce or less of marijuana, remains alive. The Senate Judiciary Committee took up the bill Monday, and Riggs said he agreed with criticism that the section dealing with past arrests was confusing. An amendment by the committee deleted the retroactive portion of the bill, but the committee took no final vote. Riggs told the committee he drafted the legislation because he believes criminally prosecuting for possession of an ounce or less of marijuana takes a toll on the state's prison system and strains the budgets of prosecutors and courts. Laura Shue of Little Rock, staff attorney for the office of the prosecutor coordinator, said a poll of prosecuting attorneys throughout the state found opposition to the bill. Prosecutors fear that expunging past criminal records would burden staff and the bill is confusing as to what charges could be expunged. She said in an interview that the prosecuting attorneys will be polled again if the bill is changed to apply to future arrests. A revised bill will come before the committee Wednesday. Glen Schwarz, president of the Arkansas chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said in an interview that he'll still support the bill even if it doesn't apply to past convictions. He said that 8,000 people are arrested annually in Arkansas for possession of marijuana, about 68 percent of the drug possession arrests in the state. Shue said that Arkansas Code Annotated 5-64-401 (C) makes it a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine, to possess an ounce or less of marijuana. That law makes a second offense for such possession a Class D felony, punishable by up to six years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. A third offense is a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Under the bill, anybody possessing one ounce or less of marijuana would be "guilty of a violation, punishable by a fine of not more than $200." Schwarz said that 11 other states -- Alaska, Oregon, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, North Carolina, New York and Maine -- enacted similar legislation in the 1970s.Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (AR) Author: Chris Osher, Arkansas Democrat-GazettePublished: March 20, 2001Copyright: 2001 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Address: 121 East Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201 Contact: voices ardemgaz.com Website: http://www.ardemgaz.com/ Forum: http://www.ardemgaz.com/info/voices.html Related Articles & Web Site:Arkansas NORMLhttp://www.alltel.net/~macdonald1/arnorml.html Marijuana is Target in Battle on Drugs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8315.shtmlCannabisNews - Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by Toker00 on March 20, 2001 at 16:57:15 PT Keeping my fingers crossed. This will most certainly be a welcomed change in this state. If this passes, I would like to personally thank all those who have kept up the battle to free this plant, and those wrongly incarcerated for possession of it. Sounds like passed convictions are not totally out of the question, either. But, whatever, going from a year in prison to a 200.00 fine, is magnanimous, in this state. So, thanks, all you red-eyed, open minded, big hearted, just say know activists. In advance.Peace. Realize, then Legalize. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: