A bill filed Monday proposes to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana in Arkansas

A bill filed Monday proposes to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana in Arkansas.

Under House Bill 1972, possessing less than four ounces of marijuana would change from a Class A misdemeanor to a violation amounting to no more than a $200 fine.

Possession of fewer than four ounces of marijuana in Arkansas is currently punishable by up to a year in jail.

The bill proposed by Rep. Charles Blake, Rep. Vivian Flower and Sen. Joyce Elliott would also not consider possession of fewer than four ounces of marijuana a previous conviction.