New bill would decriminalize marijuana possession in Delaware
Delaware lawmakers plan to introduce a bill that would allow the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for personal use without penalties.
Under the proposed legislation, use of the substance is not permitted for anyone under 21 or in public places such as streets, sidewalks or parks. Violators would be given a civil penalty and charged a $100 fee.
Currently, anyone caught with small amounts of the substance face a Class B misdemeanor and penalties of up to three months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
According to statistics provided by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, Delaware has the 12th highest arrest rate for marijuana possession and one of the harshest personal-use penalties in the nation.
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have eased up on marijuana users, ending jail time for those caught holding small amounts of the drug.
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