Lawmakers sent bills to the Senate floor Tuesday to lessen penalties for marijuana possession and allow individuals with epilepsy to try hemp oil.
The Senate Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee approved allowing the use of hemp oil — or CBD oil, which is extracted from marijuana — but offered no endorsement of the proposal, instead opting to send it to the full Senate without recommendation.
The committee did endorse lowering penalties for first and second-time marijuana possession, though lawmakers added provisions to strengthen punishments for burglaries.
The penalty reductions for possession and the hemp oil legalization were originally a single, comprehensive bill. Lawmakers decided to split the bill, creating two separate proposals.
Senators appeared torn over hemp oil, acknowledging its importance as an issue but questioning whether the Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee was the appropriate venue in which to vet the proposal.
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