Marijuana: New Hampshire Legislator Introduces Decriminalization Bill
New Hampshire state Rep. Steven Lindsey (D) Tuesday introduced a bill that would decriminalize the possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Under the bill, HB 555, persons over the age of 18 would face no more than a $100 fine. Simple possession would also be decriminalized for minors, but they would be subjected to community service and a drug awareness program at their own expense or face a $1,000 fine.
The New Hampshire House passed a similar measure last year. It died in the state Senate.
Under current New Hampshire law, possession of up to an ounce is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. Rep. Lindsey called current law "draconian" during a Tuesday hearing.
Thirteen states have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana, most of them in the 1970s. But Nevada did it in 2001 and fellow New England state Massachusetts did it last November. State legislatures in Vermont and Washington are also dealing with decrim bills this year.
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Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 02/07/2009 - 8:15pmThe senate gave the governor a pass. We are the majority it's time to put down the bong, come out of the basement and open your mouth. Mass just passed question 2 with 65%. Michigan just passed a med bill with 62% (?).
You guys are the ones who drive around with "Live Free or Die" on your license plates. We got the the President, better media than we've had in my 36 years of life. We CAN"T let this window close on us.
As we're saying down here in Mass "No Cuffs for Cannabis!"
Peace, Love and Cannabis
if people of government
Comment posted by Anonymous on Mon, 02/09/2009 - 12:17pmif people of government wanna end the recession legalize the weed charge high taxes for businesses that wanna carry such product then the sales tax and city taxes on top of that stop being stupid guys it cost you guys more money to house a criminal ..
you'll make more off of them if you fine then and make them do community service
legalize it
Comment posted by Anonymous on Tue, 02/10/2009 - 7:12pmI'm all in favor of legalizing marijuana. It should be as legal to grow as tomatoes or peppers are in anyone's home garden. As for taxing marijuana I say "No". Why? Because the plant is so easy to grow and propagate that anyone could grow all they need in a small garden right next to the corn, tomatoes, and beans. Taxing marijuana would make homegrowers criminals (Again!) and I for one have had enough of government interference in my private life. Taxation would also continue the double-standard regarding alcohol and marijuana. You can brew a few hundred gallons of beer and wine every year for "personal" use tax free and you don't even have tell the government about it.
Legalize (not just decriminalize) marijuana and let me grow as much as I need for personal use each year (about 5 pounds of buds turned into cannabutter). Tax the rich not the backyard gardener.
Marijuana
Comment posted by Anonymous on Tue, 02/24/2009 - 8:42pmThe only reason why the laws on marijuana are so great in to days world is because of Harry J. Anslinger. He was the commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics in the 1930 - 1970's. He struck fear into the heart of the American people so great, that they pushed to make marijuana illegal June 14th 1937. one mans opinion on marijuana should not have had the effect that it did. Now we have to suffer with what has been done, till it is decriminalized.
I hate John Lynch
Comment posted by Jimi Devine on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 10:08pmSadly the governor doesn't even give this bill a shot. Last year he basically killed the bill in the senate by telling them not to waste his time with it.