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Panel Votes To Decriminalize Half-Ounce of MJ
Posted by CN Staff on April 01, 2009 at 05:09:42 PT
By Christopher Keating, The Hartford Courant
Source: Hartford Courant
Connecticut -- On a groundbreaking vote, the legislature's judiciary committee decided Tuesday night to decriminalize marijuana possession for adults 18 and older who have less than half an ounce of the drug.Under a compromise, the marijuana laws would not change for anyone under 18, and the amount that would be decriminalized was reduced from less than 1 ounce to less than half an ounce. The possession of small amounts would no longer be a crime and would instead be an infraction with a maximum fine of $250 that could be paid like a speeding ticket.
Some Democratic legislators, including Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney of New Haven, have been pushing hard this year for decriminalization, saying that doing so could save the state more than $11 million in law enforcement costs annually because far fewer people would be sent to state Superior Court to be overseen by prosecutors and probation officials. If marijuana users were issued a ticket that could be paid by mail, they would no longer need to go to court.The bill passed 24-14 in the Democratic-dominated committee, and the highest-ranking Republican who voted for the measure was deputy House Republican leader William Hamzy of Plymouth.Despite the positive vote Tuesday night, the bill still faces an uphill battle as Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell opposes the decriminalization. Rell vetoed a bill two years ago that would have allowed the use of marijuana for medical purposes to relieve pain."Whether it's little or a lot, it is an illegal substance, and the governor does not support the bill," Rell's spokesman, Christopher Cooper, said Tuesday night after the vote.Cooper noted that the committee vote does not guarantee that the bill will be approved by the full House and Senate. "It may never reach her desk," he said.The vote marked a sharp change from the recent history of the legislature on criminal law. Under then-Gov. John G. Rowland and the Republican-controlled Senate in 1995 and 1996, the legislature passed tough-on-crime laws that strengthened the death penalty and increased penalties for criminals. The legislature is now strongly dominated by Democrats, who control more than two-thirds of the seats and have the most seats in the House of Representatives in more than 30 years.Nationwide, 22 states have passed some form of decriminalization. One of the most recent was Massachusetts, where offenders receive a civil fine of $100 instead of being charged with a crime.Currently in Connecticut, possession of less than a half-ounce of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000.The debate, which lasted more than two hours, touched on a wide variety of opinions on crime and punishment.House Republican leader Lawrence Cafero of Norwalk spoke strongly Tuesday against changing the law, saying that he has seen drugs ruin numerous lives during the past 16 years that he has served as the expulsion officer for the Norwalk public schools. High-achieving students who once received f A's and B's in their classes often fall to C's and D's after they have become regular marijuana smokers, Cafero said."I've seen kids who are getting high at 7 in the morning, sometimes at 12 years old," Cafero told the committee. "It ruins a lot of lives. It ruins a lot of families."He also reminded middle-aged legislators that they should know that marijuana today is far more potent than the drug that was available in the 1970s."What is the message that we as a legislature will send when we decriminalize marijuana?" Cafero asked. "That sends a wrong message."If the bill becomes law, a person driving 80 mph on the Merritt Parkway would receive a bigger fine than the same person who was possessing 15 marijuana joints, Cafero said.Later in the debate, Sen. Edwin Gomes said that the speeder is creating more of a risk, based on the number of accidents on the road."That person who is speeding should be fined more than someone who has less than a half-ounce of marijuana because he is more of a hazard to the public," said Gomes, a Bridgeport Democrat.Sen. John Kissel, the ranking Senate Republican on the committee, said he does not believe that possession of marijuana should be equated to the level of a parking ticket."I don't know where we are going as a state," Kissel said. "Fundamentally, I think it sets us on exactly the wrong path."Rep. Ernest Hewett, a New London Democrat who supported the bill, said it is essentially impossible to stop someone if they want to smoke marijuana."I think alcohol is the real problem. We're just disregarding that," Hewett said. "I do agree with Rep. Cafero on one thing. This stuff starts at home."In the last high-profile debate on the subject, Rell vetoed a bill that would have legalized the medical use of marijuana in June 2007. Although she said that she, as a cancer survivor, had sympathy for those who wanted to use marijuana for pain management, she said that her sympathy could not overcome her concerns that those seeking to obtain the drug would need to break the law to purchase it.Looney, a chief proponent of the measure, said the bill "represents a compassionate and pragmatic policy. Our state should not encourage illegal drug use; however, possession of marijuana for personal use should not leave a person with a lifelong criminal record."The bill would cut costs for police, courts, public defenders and prosecutors, he said. The legislature's Office of Fiscal Analysis said the 9,928 marijuana arrests in Connecticut in 2007 represented 7 percent of total arrests statewide, and estimated 3,300 of those involved less than 1 ounce.Source: Hartford Courant (CT)Author: Christopher Keating, The Hartford CourantPublished: April 1, 2009Copyright: 2009 The Hartford CourantContact: letters courant.comWebsite: http://www.courant.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/sqAaWCQpRelated Articles:Lawmakers May Discuss Decriminalizing Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24654.shtmlGov. Rell Opposes Marijuana Decriminalizationhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24651.shtml
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Comment #11 posted by Hope on April 02, 2009 at 07:59:36 PT
Indeed...
Their lies and deception start with the "Scheduling" of marijuana/cannabis, along side heroin. Their "Message" to our children has been "Lie, Lie, Lie... and get away with it for years and years. Falsely accuse people, spy on others and tattle to the government about what "Illegal" substances some one might be handling, and be as violent and ignorant as you possibly can." The scheduling, DARE classes,and official behavior all teach the same bizarre "Message". Messages, torqued with lies, from the government. What an idea.And of course, "Always tell the government on anyone, including your friends, family, neighbors, and even your parents, if you suspect they are using "Illegal drugs" Help us help them by arresting them." Comments children make in DARE, like "My Daddy has some of that stuff in a shoe box under his bed", and a DARE officer's persuasions of "Help them", have led to their parent's and relatives arrests. That's a fact.Paint With Light said, "The wrong message is telling the public, and especially, "the children", that heroin and cocaine are as safe as cannabis.That is what they are doing when they lump them in the same schedule."
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Comment #10 posted by Paint with light on April 01, 2009 at 23:51:25 PT
Wrong message
The wrong message is telling the public,and especially, "the children",that heroin and cocaine are as safe as cannabis.That is what they are doing when they lump them in the same schedule.Legally, equal with alcohol is all I ask.
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on April 01, 2009 at 17:03:00 PT
If Weed Is So Helpful, Why Not Regulate It?
LAPD Chief: If Weed Is So Helpful, Why Not Regulate It?April 1, 2009Los Angeles Police Department Chief William Bratton called state policies regulating the sale of pot as medicine "Looney Tunes," even though the Obama administration directed federal agents to stop raids in states where medical marijuana is legal."I think that the policy of the federal government at this time is unfortunate. I think the policy of this state is Looney Tunes," Bratton said Wednesday at a Parker Center news conference.URL: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/LAPD-Chief-If-Marijuana-is-So-Helpful-Why-Dont-Regulate-It.html
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on April 01, 2009 at 13:33:14 PT
Conn. Panel Moves To Decriminalize Pot
April 1, 2009Hartford, Conn. (UPI) -- A Connecticut legislative committee has voted to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana in a groundbreaking move, observers said.The state legislature's judiciary committee Tuesday voted 24-14 to turn possession of less than a half ounce of pot by adults into a minor infraction with a maximum fine of $250 that could be paid by mail like a speeding ticket, The Hartford Courant reported.Supporters, including Democratic Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney of New Haven, say the measure would save the state $11 million in law enforcement costs each year since far fewer people would need to be processes through the courts system, the newspaper said.The decriminalization push, however, still faces a tough fight from Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who opposes relaxing pot penalties and two years ago vetoed a bill to allow the use of medical marijuana."Whether it's little or a lot, it is an illegal substance, and the governor does not support the bill," Rell spokesman Christopher Cooper told reporters Tuesday night after the vote.Copyright: 2009 United Press Internationalhttp://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/01/Conn_panel_moves_to_decriminalize_pot/UPI-53871238614992/
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on April 01, 2009 at 11:58:43 PT
Sam
It's just crazy to me. The more taxes the poorer we get when we tax substances that will be purchased again and again. Who will be able to buy food? We are cigarette rationing because of health reasons but now also because we can't afford them anymore.
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Comment #6 posted by Sam Adams on April 01, 2009 at 11:53:25 PT
money
FOM no kidding, I was pumping gas the other day and I saw a sign "Marlboro $7.53" I was like WHAT? Is that what we're charging the poor tobacco smokers these days? Ridiculous.I don't see much difference between this and Nazi Germany, the smokers have been targeted as the group to be officially persecuted. It's not fair, they don't cost us any more than non-smokers - they actually cost less in health care because they tend to die younger & faster than non-smokers. it's just pure scapegoating and persecution - "I'm better than you" mentality
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on April 01, 2009 at 10:53:43 PT
Cafero
""What is the message that we as a legislature will send when we decriminalize marijuana?" Cafero asked. "That sends a wrong message."If the bill becomes law, a person driving 80 mph on the Merritt Parkway would receive a bigger fine than the same person who was possessing 15 marijuana joints, Cafero said."Well it's so obvious that the overwhelming desire to punish and punish and punish people to keep them from using marijuana has helped a lot and really worked. Out of fear of people like Cafero and the punishing prohibition they have in place, of course, no one uses marijuana in this country.He thinks prohibition has worked quite well... and shouldn't be changed. He must be so smart. Of course we need people like him to be our representatives in legislation. Smart intelligent people that know how to appreciate the value of prohibition of a non-lethal herb.Way to go Cafero! What a mind! 
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on April 01, 2009 at 09:48:29 PT
Another Song
With all the talk of tax and because it's tax time. Here's what I think about it.The Beatles - Taxmanhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Maz9ddxEQnMPS: I could really use a cigarette right now if I could afford one. Lord help us if marijuana is ever taxed. Do they heavily tax alcohol. I don't drink so I don't know. Sin taxes are very upsetting.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on April 01, 2009 at 08:23:58 PT
Sam
That what they want. Beatles - Money (That's What I Want)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cFJTauCdCE
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Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on April 01, 2009 at 08:12:24 PT
Liar's poker
Doesn't the whole thing have an Orwellian feel? They know damn well that the voters want $100 fine for one ounce. But like parasites they suck as much blood as they can from the host. At least ticks and leeches don't lie.OF COURSE speeding on the highway is more dangerous that MJ possession and should be punished more harshly
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Comment #1 posted by Storm Crow on April 01, 2009 at 06:12:00 PT
Mr. Cafero
"I've seen kids who are getting high at 7 in the morning, sometimes at 12 years old," Cafero told the committee. "It ruins a lot of lives. It ruins a lot of families."I work at a school- I too have seen kids who were "getting high at 7 in the morning". Worked wonders with one kid- ADHD and more. He was failing 7th grade badly- until he began coming in reeking of pot! He passed 7th grade by ther skin of his teeth. And no, cannabis does NOT ruin a lot of lives and families- you must be thinking of cannabis PROHIBITION! Our draconian laws ruin far more innocent lives than cannabis! Your "cure" is much worse than the supposed "disease"!"What is the message that we as a legislature will send when we decriminalize marijuana?" Cafero asked. "That sends a wrong message."The message that cannabis is a gentle, safe medicinal herb useful in a wide variety of diseases and conditions? That we do not need poisonous "cures" from "Big Pharma" when we can grow our own medicines? That we are adults who can make our own decisions? Actually I like the message! 
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