DOVER, Del. (AP) - A bill decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana has cleared a Delaware legislative panel and is headed to the House floor for a vote.
House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee members voted 5-to-4 Wednesday to release the bill after its chief sponsor said she would make several revisions to address concerns of police officials.
Law enforcement groups, including the Delaware State Police, nevertheless remain opposed to the bill.
The bill makes possession of an ounce or less of marijuana a civil offense punishable by a fine of $100, rather than a criminal offense.
Smoking marijuana in an area accessible to the public or in a moving vehicle would be a criminal misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $200 and imprisonment of up to five days.
