Legislation filed yesterday in the Utah House by State Representative Grant Miller (D) would significantly reduce criminal penalties for people caught using or possessing small amounts of marijuana, continuing a gradual shift away from harsher enforcement for low-level offenses.
House Bill 253 would lower penalties for the use or possession of 14 grams or less of marijuana, restructuring how those cases are handled under state law. Under the proposal, a first offense involving that amount would be treated as an infraction rather than a misdemeanor, limiting the consequences to a fine.
As written, a second offense for 14 grams or less would be classified as a class C misdemeanor, which wouldn’t result in jailtime but could result in having a criminal record. Third offenses would be a class B misdemeanor and a class A misdemeanor for fourth offenses. Under current law, a third and fourth offense is a felony.
Notably, the legislation ties into Utah’s clean slate framework by clarifying how certain marijuana possession convictions qualify for automatic expungement after specified waiting periods. This means individuals with minor marijuana-related records could more easily have those cases cleared, provided they meet existing eligibility requirements and do not have disqualifying offenses.
The proposal does not change Utah’s existing prohibitions on marijuana sales or broader possession limits, nor does it legalize adult-use marijuana. Instead, it focuses narrowly on reducing the long-term consequences of minor possession offenses, especially first-time offenses.
House Bill 253 is scheduled to take effect on May 6, 2026, if approved by the Legislature and signed into law.
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