The North Dakota House of Representatives has approved House Bill 1596, a bill to decriminalize marijuana possession, by a vote of 76 to 17.
Under current law, possession of up to half an ounce of cannabis does not come with the possibility of jailtime due to a 2019 law, but it does remain a criminal infraction punishable by a fine of up to $1,000. HB 1596 would make the possession of up to half an ounce of cannabis a noncriminal citation, rather than a criminal infraction, with a max fine of $150.
Additionally, the legislation lowers penalties for larger amounts, with possession of up to 100 grams being classified as an infraction instead of a misdemeanor. The bill also amends penalties related to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and drug paraphernalia, ensuring that first-time low-level offenses carry civil penalties rather than criminal charges.
A key provision of the bill expands the automatic sealing of records for first-time possession offenses if the individual is not convicted of another violation within two years to account for possession of up to 500 grams of cannabis, rather than the current standard of up to one ounce.
With its passage in the House, the bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
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