cannabisnews.com: Bill To Cut Penalties for Marijuana Withdrawn Bill To Cut Penalties for Marijuana Withdrawn Posted by FoM on March 31, 2001 at 06:59:11 PT By Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette A bill that would reduce criminal penalties for the possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is dead. Sen. Steve Bryles, D-Blytheville, on Friday withdrew his motion for the Senate Judiciary Committee to recommend approval of Senate Bill 861 by Sen. John Riggs, D-Little Rock, after it became clear a majority of the committee didn't support it. "I'll probably be back in two years trying to do it again,'' Riggs told the committee. Senate Bill 861 would reduce the punishment for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana on the first offense from up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine to up to 30 days in jail and a $100 fine. The bill also would cut the punishment for subsequent offenses from up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine to up to 30 days in jail and a $100 fine. Sen. Doyle Webb, R-Benton, opposed the bill. He said there is a stiff punishment for those convicted of growing marijuana in the state. "There would be no market if we also stopped those who use it,'' said Webb. Reducing the criminal penalties for possessing marijuana would support an illegal activity, he said. Committee Chairman Mike Everett, D-Marked Tree, supporting the bill, contended that 30 percent to 40 percent of the people in Arkansas have used marijuana and fewer than 1 percent of these people have been arrested. "I'm not pro-drugs, but this isn't a dangerous drug," said Everett, who described cocaine and methamphetamine as dangerous. "We just shoot ourselves in the foot with our laws on marijuana," he said, citing the costs of incarcerating people convicted of possessing marijuana. Sen. Cliff Hoofman, D-North Little Rock, said marijuana is a dangerous drug that can cause serious brain damage. Recommending approval of this bill would move the Legislature closer to saying the use of marijuana is "an OK thing," he said, and the Legislature shouldn't send that message to the public. Society is almost to the point where it accepts the use of marijuana, Hoofman said. "I don't want to be the one to go over the hump and say it's OK." Riggs said Hoofman is normally a stalwart looking out for the interests of the poor people. He said most people arrested for possessing marijuana don't have the resources of either him or Hoofman. Bryles lamented that the state is continuing to build more prisons and suck up precious resources to incarcerate inmates. "We can't continue to waste resources," he said. "We are losing the war on drugs." A person convicted of marijuana possession for a second time, even an amount less than an ounce, is guilty of a felony, he said, and the punishment is too severe. One of Gov. Mike Huckabee's priorities is to look at alternative sentences and penalties for nonviolent crimes, Bryles said. Meanwhile, a civil tort reform bill also failed to clear the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday. Sen. Steve Farris, D-Central, didn't get a committee member to second his motion for the panel to recommend SB449 by Sen. Jon Fitch, D-Hindsville. "This isn't an issue that can be ignored forever," he said. The issue ultimately will be addressed by a constitutional amendment in response to a public outcry, he said. The most hotly contested part of the bill would limit an award for punitive damages to $500,000 or three times the amount of a claimant's economic loss, whichever is greater. An award for punitive damages may not be made in the absence of an award for compensatory damages under the bill. Attorney Paul Byrd of Little Rock questioned whether a cap on punitive damages would be constitutional. If the Legislature approves legislation limiting punitive damages and a suit is filed challenging the law, the law will be unclear for a long time, he said. Former Sen. Morril Harriman of Van Buren, representing the Arkansas Poultry Federation, argued the Legislature has a right to set guidelines for punitive damages. He conceded that he couldn't say whether a law limiting punitive damages would be constitutional in Arkansas. Similar laws have been ruled constitutional in some states and unconstitutional in others, he said.Complete Title: Bill To Cut Penalties for Marijuana Possession WithdrawnSource: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (AR)Author: Michael R. WicklinePublished: Saturday, March 31, 2001Copyright: 2001 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.Address: 121 East Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201Contact: voices ardemgaz.com Website: http://www.ardemgaz.com/Forum: http://www.ardemgaz.com/info/voices.htmlRelated Articles & Web Site:Arkansas NORMLhttp://www.alltel.net/~macdonald1/arnorml.html Marijuana Bill Altered, on Holdhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9076.shtmlMarijuana is Target in Battle on Drugs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8315.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by Binky on April 01, 2001 at 10:04:04 PT For Real Did he say serious brain damage?God help us all [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Cuzn Buzz on March 31, 2001 at 11:12:23 PT: THE WHY Ok. Given the available information why on earth would anyone in his right mind still try to maintain an anti cannabis stance?Well, might I suggest economics.It is often said that we learn best by observation.Perhaps Arkansas has observed Texas massive growth industry...you know the one I mean;PRISONS.PRISONS to lock away your loved ones for victimless crimes.PRISONS to strip the dreams away from our youth.PRISONS which must be filled regardless to the damage done to society.PRISONS which line the pockets of the insiders who build them, and the porkbarrel polititians that vote for them.PRISONS...just good business! *NOT*! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by observer on March 31, 2001 at 07:41:20 PT With Fallacy-Based Law You Can 'Prove' Anything Sen. Doyle Webb, R-Benton, opposed the bill. . .Reducing the criminal penalties for possessing marijuana would support an illegal activity, he said.Masterful piece of entirely circular reasoning. http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/define/circle.htm http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/begging.htm You could make chocolate fudge illegal, then turn around to justify yourself and say, "reducing criminal penalties for possessing fudge would support an illegal activity." And be just as "correct."A total and classic fallacy handed to us once again to justify the rapacious plunder of citizens. The good people will buy it without thinking; they always do. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by J.R. Bob Dobbs on March 31, 2001 at 07:06:23 PT Why wait two years to try again?? >>Sen. Cliff Hoofman, D-North Little Rock, said marijuana is a dangerous drug that can cause serious brain damage. "Marijuana causes insanity... in non-smokers." -- Tim Leary Wasn't there a former resident of Little Rock who said, "I think that most small amounts of marijuana have been decriminalized in some places, and should be." [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: