Associated Press<\/p>\n
June 1, 2012<\/p>\n
State senators have rejected a bid to make California the 14th state to end felony penalties for those convicted of possessing small amounts of drugs for personal use.<\/p>\n
Sen. Mark Leno, a Democrat from San Francisco, proposed reducing drug possession to a misdemeanor.<\/p>\n
Those convicted would have served up to a year in county jail instead of the three-year maximum sentence under current law.<\/p>\n
Leno argued that SB1506 would save counties and the state millions of dollars annually and help reduce jail crowding.<\/p>\n
Just 11 Democratic senators supported the bill Thursday. Twenty-four senators of both political parties were opposed, and several other Democrats did not cast votes.<\/p>\n
Sen. Ted Gaines, a Republican from Roseville, noted that law enforcement groups are opposed. He calls drug possession a gateway to other crimes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Associated Press June 1, 2012 State senators have rejected a bid to make California the 14th state to end felony penalties for those convicted of possessing small amounts of drugs for personal use. Sen. Mark Leno, a Democrat from San … Continue reading