North Dakota House Passes Bill to Treat Low-Level Marijuana Possession as Civil Infraction
In a move to reduce the burden on the state’s court system, the North Dakota House has passed a bill that would treat possession of small amounts of marijuana as a civil infraction, rather than a criminal offense. The bill, sponsored by Representative Liz Conmy, would impose a fine of $150 for individuals caught with less than half an ounce of marijuana, without requiring them to appear in court.
According to the bill’s sponsor, over the past four years, there have been an average of 2,169 marijuana cases in North Dakota courts each year, with the majority involving possession of less than half an ounce. The bill aims to streamline the process for these low-level offenses, freeing up court time and resources for more serious cases.
The bill also reduces penalties for possession of larger amounts of marijuana, but possession of more than 500 grams would still be considered a Class A misdemeanor. Individuals who feel wrongly accused of possession would still have the option to appear before a judge to contest the charges.
The bill received support from North Dakota state’s attorneys and the North Dakota Legal Counsel for Indigents, who argued that it would free up resources and reduce the workload for the court system. Stark County State’s Attorney Amanda Engelstad noted that many of these cases involve individuals from out-of-state, leading to missed court dates and additional work for the court system.
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. If passed, it would mark a significant shift in North Dakota’s approach to marijuana possession, moving away from criminalization and towards a more civil approach.
