When he said to the committee that he had “smoked out” issues in his previous bill, he used several cannabis puns. He also told them his assistant “Mary Jane” made changes.
By Clark Corbin of the Idaho Capital Sun
If a new law passed by the Idaho Legislature is passed, anyone convicted of possession of less than three ounces marijuana in Idaho will receive a minimum mandatory fine of $420.
House Bill 606 is Rep. Bruce Skaug’s second attempt at passing a bill establishing a mandatory fine for possession of marijuana less than three ounces, following House Bill 559. which was introduced on the 13th of February.
Skaug (R-Nampa) told the members of the House State Affairs Committee on Tuesday that House Bill 606 replaced House Bill 559, and made a technical correct. The only difference is that the new bill includes language that says, basically, any other penalties specified by state law may also be applied in addition to the fine of $420.
The new bill, if passed, would amend Idaho’s existing laws for possession, manufacturing and delivery of controlled substances. Idaho law states that anyone who has more than three ounces marijuana is subject to a five-year prison sentence and/or a fine up to $10,000. The bill adds an additional $420 fine for marijuana possession less than three ounces. State law describes marijuana as “all parts of the plants of the genus cannabis, including the extract or any preparation of cannabis which contains tetrahydrocannabinol.”
The $420 fine refers to the slang term for marijuana high. Skaug made several puns about marijuana during Tuesday’s brief introductory hearing. He told the committee that he had “smoked out” a problem with his last bill, and then ran the changes through his assistant “Mary Jane.”
Idaho’s neighbors, except Wyoming, have legalized recreational or medical marijuana. Utah allows qualified patients with a medical cannabis ID card to possess and use medical marijuana. Washington, Oregon Montana and Nevada all allow recreational marijuana.
The hearing on Tuesday was an introductory one, and did not include any public testimony.
The introduction of House Bill 606 allows the bill to be returned to the House State Affairs Committee to have a full hearing.
Brent Crane (R-Nampa), the chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, informed legislators during Tuesday’s session that, in order to advance the legislative session for 2024, they will need to get permission from Republican House Leaders to introduce new bills.
Idaho’s non-privileged committees had already been given a deadline of February 12 to introduce new legislation. The Idaho Legislature’s so-called non-privileged committees already faced a February 12 deadline to introduce new bills.
This article was originally published by Idaho Capital Sun.
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The article New Idaho bill would apply a $420 minimum fine for marijuana possession first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
