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North Dakota’s Senate rejected House Bill 1596 on Wednesday which would have lowered marijuana possession penalties by one criminal class. The bill would have created non-criminal citations for adults with small amounts instead of infractions. Sen. Diane Larson (R-Bismarck) opposed the change, arguing existing laws maintain community safety. Supporters Sen. Judy Lee and Sen. Kyle Davison (both R-Fargo) cited court system strain, noting 8,700+ marijuana charges created over 17,000 hearings in four years. “It makes sense,” said Davison. “Law enforcement needs to focus on violent crime.”
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