Bill would increase the penalty for selling marijuana

Friends shouldn’t give friends alot of pot. That’s the message in a billwhich cleared the Iowa House today. Under present Iowa law, someone cangive away up to an ounce of marijuana — and even sell it — and face just a250-dollar penalty. The bill would change that give-away amount tohalf-an-ounce, and if ANY money changes hands, it’s a felony. Representative Steve Sukup, a republican from Dougherty, says toomany people have been lulled into thinking it’s o-k to deal pot to friends.Sukup says the move will decrease the amount of pot that’s traded in Iowa.The bill now goes to the Senate.