Alabama: cannabis decriminalization to go before the Senate

The Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed on April 17, 2019. the proposal to decriminalize small quantities of cannabis. The same committee had already voted in favor of a similar proposal in 2018 with a closer vote of 6 to 4. The text was subsequently rejected by Parliament.

The current proposal is to decriminalize the possession of small quantities of cannabis. Those caught with less than 28 grams (1 ounce) will be liable to a fine of 250$ for the first two offences, and 500$ for subsequent offences. Possession of more than 28g and less than 56g will still be considered a misdemeanor. Possession over 56g will be punishable by 10 years' imprisonment.

Democratic Senator Bobby Singleton presented the Senate Bill 98 in March 2019, arguing that the current system of charging residents for cannabis possession was arbitrary, relying more on whether it was for personal use or not rather than the quantities seized.

«We can't keep sending people to prison for minor crimes that are definitely non-violent,» Singleton declared.

The proposal to decriminalize cannabis in Alabama will now have to pass a vote in the full Senate before going any further.

Alabama is not the only U.S. state to propose decriminalization this year. Missouri, Hawaii and Texas have also presented attempts at reform, and the New Mexico has just decriminalized it.