On Monday, the Florida Senate Committee on Criminal Justice will meet to discuss several topics, the most important of which is a bill aimed at reducing penalties for the personal possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Authored by Sen. Jeff Clemens (D-Palm Beach), Senate Bill 1662 would categorize the “Personal use quantity of cannabis” as less than 1 ounce of marijuana and no more than 5 grams of concentrates.
Provided SB 1662 survives the political gauntlet and is passed into law, individuals 18 and over who are caught with less than 28 grams of personal stash would be assessed a fine of “not more than $100.” Upon request, individuals would be allowed to exchange their fine for community service hours.
Just before Florida voters approved their amendment to legalize medical marijuana last November, a Quinnipiac University poll found 80% of those surveyed support the use of the medicinal plant. As politicians in the state capital clash over competing philosophies – who, what, where, when and why – residents of the Sunshine State have demonstrated they are over the status quo.
