Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Signed by Gov Schwarzenegger
October 2nd, 2010 - 12:30 am ICT by Angela Kaye Mason
Oct 1 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Senate bill 1449, which reduces possession of marijuana by an adult from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil infraction, was signed in California by the state’s governor. What this basically means is that adults will not longer be arrested and taken into custody when they are caught with illegal marijuana, but will instead be fined, as with a speeding ticket. The fine is one hundred dollars.
Over sixty thousand Californians were arrested, given a court date, and then fined a hundred bucks last year for possession of marijuana. According to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, this is simply too costly for the state. Although he is not in favor of decriminalization for personal use, he stated that his state can just not afford to spend the cash on court appearances for these citizens.
This law will alleviate the need for a court date, and those who are caught with marijuana will simply pay the fine, as people pay a ticket. It goes into effect on January 1. It is still considered a crime to smoke weed in public or in front of a child.
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Tags: adult, adults, arnold schwarzenegger, californians, citizens, civil infraction, court appearances, criminal misdemeanor, governor arnold schwarzenegger, january 1, marijuana decriminalization, one hundred dollars, personal use, possession of marijuana, senate bill, speeding ticket, weed