Georgia legislation looking into lighter punishments for marijuana

(ALBANY, GA)- House Bill 550 was introduced during the Legislative Session, and would cut down on penalties for possessing less than two ounces of marijuana.

From a misdemeanor charge to a $300 fine.

As Edwards says, a move like this could be progress towards  making the drug legal in Georgia.

“It goes a long way towards de-criminalization of marijuana. That’s a pretty large amount, relatively speaking, if you’re talking about two ounces of marijuana or less,” says Edwards.

While nothing’s official yet, the new house bill could help cut down on possession of marijuana arrests. but Edwards says that lawmakers could run into other hurdles with the bill.

Those hurdles will be the long-term impact of letting people off the hook for a small amount of marijuana.

“The bill has to be viewed in light of all of the enactments that are currently standing. That’s the job our legislators are going to have to sort out as they go forward and address it.”

If Bill 550 should pass, it would be a big step not only towards marijuana’s de-criminalization, but would also keep plenty from being charged with minor possession.

The current law labels a misdemeanor as possessing less than one ounce of marijuana, and a felony for more than an ounce.