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An Act To Decriminalize Possession of 6 or Fewer Marijuana Plants
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §1107-A, sub-§1, ¶F, as amended by PL 2009, c. 67, §2, is further amended to read:
 
F. A schedule Z drug. Violation of this paragraph is a Class E crime unless the drug is marijuana, in which case a violation of this paragraph is:
 
(1) For possession of over 2 1/2 ounces to 8 ounces of marijuana, a Class E crime;
 
(2) For possession of over 8 ounces to 16 ounces of marijuana, a Class D crime;
 
(3) For possession of over one pound to 20 pounds of marijuana, a Class C crime; and
 
(4) For possession of over 20 pounds of marijuana, a Class B crime.
 
Notwithstanding this paragraph, possession of 6 or fewer marijuana plants is not a violation of this paragraph.
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §2383, sub-§1, ¶A, as repealed and replaced by PL 2009, c. 652, Pt. B, §6, is amended to read:
 
A. A person who possesses a usable amount of marijuana commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $350 and not more than $600 must be adjudged for possession of up to 1 1/4 ounces of marijuana and a fine of not less than $700 and not more than $1,000 must be adjudged for possession of over 1 1/4 ounces to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana, none of which may be suspended. Notwithstanding this paragraph, a person who possesses 6 or fewer marijuana plants commits a civil violation for which a fine of not more than $250 must be adjudged.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides that possession of 6 or fewer marijuana plants is a civil violation for which a fine of not more than $250 must be adjudged.