Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41.

Generally under present law, it is an offense for a defendant to:<br /> <br /> (1) Knowingly possess or casually exchange a controlled substance. The offense is a Class A misdemeanor; <br /> <br /> (2) Distribute a small amount of marijuana not in excess of 1/2 ounce. The offense is a Class A misdemeanor; and<br /> <br /> (3) Violate (2) or (3) above by the casual exchange to a minor from an adult who is at least two years the minor's senior, and who knows that the person is a minor. The offense is punished as a felony.<br /> <br /> This bill reduces from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor: a violation of (1) above, when the possession or exchange involves marijuana; and a violation of (2) above. This bill also revises (3) above to refer to "a casual exchange of a controlled substance, or a distribution of marijuana" to a minor.<br /> <br /> Generally present law imposes certain mandatory minimum fines upon a person's conviction of an offense involving a controlled substance, with different fine amounts depending on the substance and the number of prior convictions. This bill removes mandatory minimum fines for convictions involving marijuana and hashish.<br /> <br /> This bill adds that an inmate who is a nonviolent offender serving a sentence for a Class A misdemeanor conviction of (1)-(3) above for the possession, exchange, or distribution of marijuana is eligible for early release from confinement for that sentence after 30 days served.<br />