Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Senator Harold Jones was in town Thursday, talking with News 12 about changing marijuana possession laws and punishment.
Jones says these changes work in the city's favor by not backlogging the criminal system with non-violent drug offenders.
While he's not pushing for legalizing marijuana, Senator Jones says reducing these punishments can make a huge difference for folks across the state.
"It may be a change in viewpoint. We'll see because, of course, right now they say they're trying to talk to law enforcement and things of that nature."
Commissioners are looking to shape their city laws like Atlanta's, making them more lax than they are right now.
"Most persons are not going to go to jail, we've made that clear. It's the fine amounts that really become problematic and then the probation that becomes more problematic. And so that's the key the commissioners are kind of addressing."
But it's the county's marijuana ordinance he says must be addressed, right now the language uses the word 'any' marijuana. It treats the punishment for a gram the same as a pound.
That needs to be specified because any amount, of course, can constitute even a felony. So that needs to be specified, which I think they'll do. So what they'll basically do is make it an ounce and that will be the demarcation line, so to speak."
Which is what he's proposing at the state level, which would impact counties statewide. Under half an ounce of marijuana, no jail time and no more than a $300 fine.
Possessing between half an ounce and two ounces, that's a misdemeanor. Anything above two ounces, a felony.
"When you had it at that low level of just being an ounce, you'd get a felony if you were over an ounce. Because you have a felony, that's another whole thing that takes place. You lose the right to vote, you lose the HOPE scholarship, things of that nature. That's kind of what we're trying to address."
But that kind of change can only come from Atlanta.
"All Augusta or any other locale can do is just change the punishment, they can't actually change the amount that constitutes a felony. They can only change the punishment, so that's good. But as far as changing the amount that constitutes a felony, that can only come from the state."
Because there's no specific punishment in Richmond County's ordinance marijuana possession charges, Senator Jones says a state bill can help make things level statewide.
Senator Jones says the bill he proposed earlier this month actually passed a senate committee and has gone to the house, which is expected to come back with their own version of the bill.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Decriminalizing Marijuana in Augusta
Author: Ben Billmyer
Contact: About WRDW-TV
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: Augusta, Georgia | WRDW News 12 | News, Weather, Sports
Jones says these changes work in the city's favor by not backlogging the criminal system with non-violent drug offenders.
While he's not pushing for legalizing marijuana, Senator Jones says reducing these punishments can make a huge difference for folks across the state.
"It may be a change in viewpoint. We'll see because, of course, right now they say they're trying to talk to law enforcement and things of that nature."
Commissioners are looking to shape their city laws like Atlanta's, making them more lax than they are right now.
"Most persons are not going to go to jail, we've made that clear. It's the fine amounts that really become problematic and then the probation that becomes more problematic. And so that's the key the commissioners are kind of addressing."
But it's the county's marijuana ordinance he says must be addressed, right now the language uses the word 'any' marijuana. It treats the punishment for a gram the same as a pound.
That needs to be specified because any amount, of course, can constitute even a felony. So that needs to be specified, which I think they'll do. So what they'll basically do is make it an ounce and that will be the demarcation line, so to speak."
Which is what he's proposing at the state level, which would impact counties statewide. Under half an ounce of marijuana, no jail time and no more than a $300 fine.
Possessing between half an ounce and two ounces, that's a misdemeanor. Anything above two ounces, a felony.
"When you had it at that low level of just being an ounce, you'd get a felony if you were over an ounce. Because you have a felony, that's another whole thing that takes place. You lose the right to vote, you lose the HOPE scholarship, things of that nature. That's kind of what we're trying to address."
But that kind of change can only come from Atlanta.
"All Augusta or any other locale can do is just change the punishment, they can't actually change the amount that constitutes a felony. They can only change the punishment, so that's good. But as far as changing the amount that constitutes a felony, that can only come from the state."
Because there's no specific punishment in Richmond County's ordinance marijuana possession charges, Senator Jones says a state bill can help make things level statewide.
Senator Jones says the bill he proposed earlier this month actually passed a senate committee and has gone to the house, which is expected to come back with their own version of the bill.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Decriminalizing Marijuana in Augusta
Author: Ben Billmyer
Contact: About WRDW-TV
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: Augusta, Georgia | WRDW News 12 | News, Weather, Sports
