The bill establishes new regulations regarding the possession of marijuana and related paraphernalia, making it unlawful to knowingly possess a personal-use quantity. Adults aged 18 and older will face a $25 fine or up to three hours of community service for violations, while minors will be required to complete up to five hours of community service or a drug awareness program. Notably, possession of cannabidiol treatment preparations is exempt from this law, and individuals cannot be arrested for marijuana infractions. Municipalities are barred from enacting their own ordinances on personal-use marijuana possession, and any existing ordinances prior to July 1, 2025, will be nullified. The bill also ensures that marijuana infractions will not affect driving privileges, student financial aid, or public housing eligibility, and mandates that records of such infractions remain confidential until July 1, 2030, unless renewed by the legislature.

Additionally, the bill amends laws related to probation, parole, and postrelease supervision, clarifying that marijuana infractions or positive drug tests for marijuana will not be considered violations of probation or community correctional services. It requires law enforcement to submit written reports for searches and creates a correctional supervision fund for implementing risk assessment tools and evidence-based supervision programs. The bill outlines specific conditions for parolees, including the requirement to submit to searches based on reasonable suspicion and prohibits conditions banning marijuana use unless deemed dangerous by the court. It also mandates notification to victims or their families regarding public comment sessions for parole decisions and establishes criteria for the parole board to consider during hearings. Lastly, the bill repeals outdated statutes and specifies that its provisions will take effect upon publication in the statute book.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 21-5706, 21-5709, 21-6607, 22-3717
As introduced: 21-5706, 21-5709, 21-6607, 22-3717