MONTPELIER -- Those who wanted marijuana legalized didn't get their way Thursday. Neither did those who wanted the Senate Judiciary Committee to leave the marijuana possession laws alone.

The committee voted 4-1 to tweak the penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana. No longer would jail time be an option for those caught with an ounce or less. Instead, all such offenders would be eligible for court diversion, a process by which their criminal record could be erased.

"I know a lot of people wanted decriminalization. We're not going to do that," said Sen. Richard Sears, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "This is better than decriminalization."

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