DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa lawmakers could reduce penalties for marijuana possession this year.
A bill in the state Senate has beaten a deadline Friday that would have discarded it.
The bill lessens the penalty for first time possession of a small amount of marijuana to a minor misdemeanor.
It still has to pass the full Senate and House before reaching the governor's office.
The bill would reduce first time fines to as little as $105.
It passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday with Chairman Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, saying it would be a major step forward because it would protect people from losing important opportunities, such as those for housing or jobs.
Senator Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, supports legalizing marijuana for recreational use. He voted in favor of the bill, but said more needs to be done, citing a 2020 report from the ACLU showing black people are 7.3 times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana.
The current maximum penalty for first time possession for a small amount of marijuana (5 grams or less) is six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The bill would reduce the maximum jail sentence to 30 days and the maximum fine to $855.