House Bill No. 140 Summary

• Establishes marijuana possession penalties: possession of more than 3 ounces is a felony (up to 5 years imprisonment and/or $10,000 fine); possession of 3 ounces or less is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year imprisonment and/or $1,000 fine).

• Provides conviction reduction pathway: first-time drug offenders convicted of possessing 1/2 ounce or less of marijuana can reduce their conviction from misdemeanor to infraction by paying $250 fine or performing 8 hours community service and completing 4 hours of court-approved drug abuse education.

• Updates code references in racketeering act (section 18-7803), racketeering penalties (section 18-7804), money laundering provisions (section 18-8201), criminal payment distribution (section 31-3201I), and criminal forfeiture (section 37-2801) to ensure consistent references to controlled substance violations.

• Adds restitution authority: courts can order defendants convicted of drug violations to pay law enforcement investigative costs, with proceeds from Idaho State Police cases directed to the drug and DUI enforcement fund.