Committee hears bill to convert lowest-level marijuana offenses to noncriminal citations

Representative Liz Conmey, sponsor of House Bill 1596, told the House Judiciary Committee that the bill responds to suggestions from state's attorneys and law enforcement around the state and would make the least serious marijuana possession offenses noncriminal citations for people 18 and older.

Conmey said the proposal aims to ease burdens on courts and prosecutors: "HB 15 96 makes the least of these marijuana offenses a noncriminal citation so that it's still a deterrent, but it takes some of the burden off of our law enforcement officers, our state's attorneys, our indigent defense attorneys, and the courts and the judges." She gave statewide case counts from Jan. 1, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2024: 8,676 marijuana charges, 7,365 cases opened, 17,000 hearings and 2,357 cases with a public defender…