Pubdate: Thu, 27 Mar 2003
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Copyright: 2003 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.oklahoman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318
Author: Jack Money
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION ADVANCES

Lawmakers' plans to decriminalize marijuana possession may not be up in 
smoke yet. Members of the House Criminal Justice Committee voted Tuesday to 
move forward a Senate bill that could make possessing an ounce or less of 
the drug a misdemeanor punishable by a fine.

Original Senate language proposing the change was removed before the House 
saw the bill this week.

Rep. Bill Nations, D-Norman, told committee members he would be working to 
restore that language to the bill when it comes to the House floor later in 
the session.

Nations told committee members the bill's effect would be to have police 
officers treat marijuana possession the same as they might a traffic ticket.

He said an agreement mirroring the law change already exists between Norman 
law enforcement officials and the Cleveland County district attorney's 
office as a way to reduce court congestion.

"And there is support for this sort of movement on this issue from the 
Oklahoma Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies," Nations said.

Sen. Bernest Cain, D-Oklahoma City, authored the bill. It goes next for 
consideration by the full House.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom