Legalizing Weed: 3 Quotes From Lawmakers After Pot Became Decriminalized in Nevada

Although Nevada is one of the 19 states in the country that has decriminalized weed, penalties are still harsh for possession. According to the Marijuana Policy Project, a first offense of carrying up to one ounce is punishable by a $600 fine.

Although the misdemeanor doesn’t mean there will be jail time, the person can be arrested and required to go to mandatory drug rehabilitation. Additional offenses are also heavy handed, with a second offense having a $1,000 fine. Possession of two ounces could put an individual in the slammer for four years.

Pot decriminalization is paving the way for more lax laws in Nevada, which is known for gambling and brothels.

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Efforts are also under way to regulate marijuana like alcohol and put the measure on the November 2016 ballot. If the measure were to pass, pot would be legalized and taxed by the state.

Legislators are considering their next move in legalizing weed. Here is a sample of what is being said by lawmakers:

1. Republican Sen. Patricia Farley organized a field trip of sorts to Colorado with her legislative colleagues to see how the state runs it operations, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

"It's actually looking at current laws and current structure and going back and fixing some of the legislation that has really prevented businesses from getting up off the ground," Farley said of the trip. "We've got gaming and alcohol. We might as well have pot. It's turning out to be, potentially, a very good emerging market for us."

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2. “I personally think it will (be a big issue),” said state Sen. Richard “Tick” Segerblom, D-Las Vegas – referring to the 2015 debate on pot in Legislature – the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.

“The press will cover it because it is a sexy issue. But the fact is, there are a lot of things we need to do about it.”

3. While pot may be a hot topic in the legislature, it appears not everyone has faith in a recreational law passage, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.

“I don’t think it would pass this session,” said Assemblyman Pat Hickey, R-Reo, also the 2013 Assembly minority leader. “And even if it did, I doubt that it would get past the veto pen of Gov. (Brian) Sandoval.”

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