House, Senate committees to consider bills easing marijuana punishments

Alabama's House and Senate committees will be debating some long overdue bills this week hoping to lower penalties for the possession of marijuana. Current penalties exceed many places around the country, personal possession can be punished in Alabama by a Class A misdeanor carrying up to 1 year in jail and a $6,000 fine. Anything above personal use is charged as a Class C Felony up to 10 years in prison. though the bills being discussed will not change penalties for larger amounts of cannabis.  Lawmakers intend to make it so young people are not followed by such a small offense for the rest of their lives. If the bills pass then possession of less than an ounce would become a violation with no jail time punishable by a fine of $250 for first offenses and up to $500 for third offenses. 

“You don’t want to hang felonies on college kids for simple possession that are going to follow them for the rest of their days,” Brewbaker said.

With few exceptions, possession of marijuana in Alabama for anything other than personal use is a Class C Felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine. Possession of marijuana for personal use is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $6,000 fine.