Pennsylvania Bill Would Raise Fines for Marijuana Possession

Advocates urge decriminalization as House Judiciary Committee plans to raise marijuana fines

HARRISBURG, PA The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote on a bill, House Bill 1422, that seeks to massively increase fines for marijuana possession.

Although HB 1422 downgrades 30 grams of marijuana or less from a criminal misdemeanor to a summary offense, those convicted will live with the burden of a criminal record.

Legislators, marijuana reform advocates and potential medical marijuana patients will speak in Harrisburg about the problems with HB 1422 Tuesday afternoon,and urge the General Assembly to decriminalize marijuana instead.

Chris Goldstein is on the Board of Directors at PhillyNORML and has extensively researched marijuana arrest statistics in Pa.

Young people, low income residents and people of color will suffer greatly under an increase in possession fines, said Goldstein.

The Pennsylvania Controlled Substances and Cosmetics Act describes that offenders can be sentenced to imprisonment not exceeding thirty days, or ordered to pay a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), or both.

HB 1422 would change not exceeding to not less than turning the old maximum fine for marijuana into the new mandatory minimum fine. And that is just for the first offense. The bill then proposes graduated fines: $750 for the second offense and $1,000 for for subsequent offenses.

Representative Ed Gainey (D Pittsburgh) thinks there is a better approach. If were really trying to help people move on with their lives, rather than face a lifetime of negative consequences, then this legislation is not the way to go, said Rep. Gainey, Fines and penalties must be reasonable and responsible.

Rep. Gainey has sponsored legislation, HB 2076, that would have a maximum fine of $100.

Jail time or the current maximum $500 fine is rarely imposed for marijuana possession cases. Philadelphia has a code violation of $25 and Pittsburgh has a $100 ticket.

Lolly Bentch Meyers, who worked with PA Campaign For Compassion on gaining access to medical cannabis for her daughter said, My heart breaks at the thought of adult patients being subject to such harsh fines.

Act 16, a medical marijuana law, was signed this year, but a working program will not be running until 2018. Luke Shultz, 54, from Bernville, Pa lives with chronic pains and is waiting for the full implementation. He says that patients who use marijuana now ...