ANOTHER BILL AT THE LEGISLATURE TO LESSEN THE PENALTY FOR POT POSSESSION. IT WENT BEFORE THE HOUSE CONSUMER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY. THE MEASURE WOULD WIPE OUT JAIL TIME FOR POSSESSING SMALL AMOUNTS OF THE DRUG.

A FIRST OFFENSE INVOLVING LESS THAN AN OUNCE OF MARIJUANA WOULD ENTAIL A 50 DOLLAR FINE ... 100 DOLLARS FOR ONE-TO-4 OUNCES ... AND 300 DOLLARS IF CAUGHT WITH 4-TO-8 OUNCES OF POT. POSSESSING MORE THAN EIGHT OUNCES STILL MEANS 18 MONTHS IN PRISON.

ALBUQUERQUE STATE SENATOR JERRY ORTIZ Y PINO IS ALSO PUSHING A MARIJUANA BILL ... ONE TO MAKE THE DRUG A BUSINESS TO INCREASE STATE FUNDS