Senate OKs reduced penalties for pot possession
The New Mexico Senate March 2 overwhelmingly approved legislation to reduce penalties for marijuana possession.
The legislation, Senate Bill 258, moves to the House.
Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, said he proposed the bill after talking to judges about ways to reduce the load on the judicial system and jails.
The bill would make possession of up to half an ounce of marijuana a penalty assessment similar to a speeding ticket. Those cited would have an option of paying a fine of $50 or challenging the citation in court.
Currently, in New Mexico, possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana is a petty misdemeanor punishable by a fine and possible jail time. Possession of more than 1 ounce but less than 8 ounces is a full misdemeanor, with a potential jail term of a year.
The Santa Fe New Mexican is a sister-paper of The Taos News.
