Marijuana Use or Possession Penalty Amendments
Introduction
Jan 20
House Rules
Mar 5
House Committee
Jan 26
House Floor Vote
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Senate 2nd Reading
Senate 3rd Reading
Governor
This bill changes criminal penalties for the use or possession of 14 grams or less of marijuana.
This bill:
AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.
Under current Utah law, possessing or using marijuana in small amounts is treated as a class B misdemeanor on a first offense, which can carry up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. This bill creates a separate, lower penalty scale specifically for possession or use of 14 grams or less of marijuana — roughly half an ounce — making a first offense a simple infraction (similar to a traffic ticket), a second offense a class C misdemeanor, a third offense within seven years a class B misdemeanor, and a fourth offense within seven years a class A misdemeanor. The bill also updates related expungement eligibility language to reflect that a first-offense infraction conviction for small-amount marijuana possession can qualify for automatic record-clearing after five years.
Introduction
Jan 20
House Rules
Mar 5
House Committee
Jan 26
House Floor Vote
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Senate 2nd Reading
Senate 3rd Reading
Governor
IntroductionJan 20
House RulesMar 5
House CommitteeJan 26
House Floor Vote
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Senate 2nd Reading
Senate 3rd Reading
Governor
This bill changes criminal penalties for the use or possession of 14 grams or less of marijuana.
This bill:
AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.
Under current Utah law, possessing or using marijuana in small amounts is treated as a class B misdemeanor on a first offense, which can carry up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. This bill creates a separate, lower penalty scale specifically for possession or use of 14 grams or less of marijuana — roughly half an ounce — making a first offense a simple infraction (similar to a traffic ticket), a second offense a class C misdemeanor, a third offense within seven years a class B misdemeanor, and a fourth offense within seven years a class A misdemeanor. The bill also updates related expungement eligibility language to reflect that a first-offense infraction conviction for small-amount marijuana possession can qualify for automatic record-clearing after five years.
House/ filed
House file for bills not passed
House/ strike enacting clause
Clerk of the House
House/ comm rpt/ sent to Rules
House Rules Committee
House Comm - Recommends Returned to Rules
House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee
LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0253S02
Released
Last updated Mar 26, 2026, 9:40 PM