The bill would go into effect July 1, if signed into law.

A similar bill was introduced in the 2018 session, but was not heard in the Senate Rules and Operations committee.

That version would have allowed a person to legally possess up to 4 ounces of marijuana.

Sen. Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth, and the primary sponsor of both bills, said he has introduced them in an effort “to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. This is heading in the right direction.”

“There are new legislators with differing outlooks on a lot of legislation being reintroduced, so now let’s see if the legislation gets a different reception.”

Currently, possession of one-half of an ounce or less of a controlled substance is a Class 3 misdemeanor. That is punishable by up to 20 days of active jail time — which typically is suspended — or a requirement of community service. [Read more at Winston-Salem Journal]