House republican John Fillmore from Apache Junction has introduced several bills covering the use of marijuana and protecting medical marijuana dispensaries.

House Bill 2044 would reduce the possession of one-ounce or less to a petty offense. The bill passed through the Judicial and Rules committee and had its second read on January 10.

The bill would change Subsection B of 13-3405 to add a Paragraph 1 to read, “Subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section involving an amount of marijuana not possessed for sale having a weight of one ounce or less is guilty of a petty offense and, notwithstanding section 13‑802, the person shall pay a fine of not more than four hundred dollars.”

13-802 provides, “A sentence to pay a fine for a petty offense shall be a sentence to pay an amount, fixed by the court, of not more than three hundred dollars.” The change would allow a fine up to one hundred dollars more.

The bill does not make the use of marijuana legal for recreational purposes.
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