The Massachusetts House Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee has approved a bill that calls for fines rather than criminal penalties for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, the Boston Globe reported Feb. 14.

The bill, passed 6-1 by the committee, sets fines for possession at $250 and calls for parents to be notified of offenses by those age 18 or younger. The current penalty for marijuana possession in Massachusetts is a $500 fine and up to six months in jail.

Committee co-chair Steven A. Tolman said the change would prevent young drug offenders from getting a criminal record that could prevent them from getting into college, finding a job, or obtaining student loans. "A priority of our committee is to develop programs of prevention, education, and treatment and shift away from an involvement with the criminal-justice system," added Rep. Ruth Balser (D-Newton).

But critics said the bill could increase marijuana use.