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Kansas Bill to Decrease Marijuana Penalties Headed For Vote

Feb 04, 2015

HB 2049, House Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice, Kansas, Kansas Sentencing Commission, misdemeanor


Kansas Bill to Decrease Marijuana Penalties Headed For Vote

A Kansas bill that would reduce harsh penalties for people found in possession of marijuana received a strong vote of support yesterday from the House Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice. HB 2049 received a unanimous vote by the committee and will now be presented on the floor of the House for a vote.

If you are a Kansas resident, please take a moment and ask your representative to support this important legislation.

HB 2049 would drop the sentence range for first time offenders from a Class A to a Class B misdemeanor -- reducing the possible maximum jail sentence from a year to six months and reducing the maximum fine from $2,500 to $1,000. Second-time offenders would likewise see a reduction in penalties – taking them from a felony to a misdemeanor.

According to testimony by the Kansas Sentencing Commission, these simple changes represent over a million dollars in savings and would free up space in overcrowded jails. While a majority of Americans prefer a system that would remove criminal penalties entirely for adult consumers, these changes would represent a welcome improvement for those who choose a substance that is safer than alcohol.