Drug War Issues
Politics & Advocacy
A New Hampshire bill that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana hit a bump Tuesday when the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee gave it a thumbs down. But despite the committee vote, the bill is not dead and will be the subject of an expected roll-call vote on the House floor.
The move was especially disappointing coming after a subcommittee of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee approved it on a 3-1 vote last week. But even that vote had resulted in a scaling back of the original proposal. Instead of the original one ounce cut-off point, the subcommittee voted to make it one-fourth of an ounce.
HB 1623 would reduce the penalty for possession of small amounts of marijuana from a Class A misdemeanor with possible jail time to a violation punishable by a maximum fine of $200. Sponsored by Reps. Jeffrey Fontas (D-Nashua), Andrew Edwards (D-Nashua), and Charles Weed (D-Keene), the bill has garnered strong public support, but also loud law enforcement opposition.
While proponents were disappointed with the committee's decision not to recommend the bill for further action, they expect a lively floor debate. "We're looking forward to taking the conversation to the floor of the House," Fontas said following the session.
"It's clear that legislators are becoming increasingly concerned about the unintended consequences of marijuana prohibition," explained Matt Simon, executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy, the Marijuana Policy Project-affiliated group that is leading the campaign. "Based on this vote, it seems discussing sensible marijuana policy still makes some people uncomfortable. But people sure are talking, and they're realizing the consequences of penalties that far exceed the offense they're supposed to correct."
Eleven states have decriminalized marijuana possession, including New Hampshire neighbors Maine and New York. The Vermont Senate passed a similar measure last week.
Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.
Comments
please listen, it cured me
I'm a 96 year old woman with back pain
that marijuana relieves somehow.
I smoke a little almost daily and have had the
best years of my life ever since.
Almost 50 years ago.
Thank you herb natue force
for the last 46 years and more to go
I recently became 'legal' per State law which I respect
as its closer to the individual which we will preserve.
That lifted the negative force off my soul, so I say thanks
Help give others the freedom to choose. Take a chance
for much greater gain, mutual trust and respect.
Please let us evolve now.
going to sleep now, just had some, peace and gentle
Please listen. A criminal drug poss. will ruin a child's life.
Did you know how a criminal possession of marijuana affects a child's life. They can't get a decent job for the rest of their lives even when they are drug tested and found to be drug free (marijuna stays in the system for up to 45 days). They can't get into certain colleges and they are denied any Federal Aide for college. This not only puts a burden on the child, it is a huge burden for us as parents.
I am in no way saying smoking marijuna is justified, but I think it is important to allow someone to make a mistake without it ruining the rest of their life. Personally, a hefty fine with mandatory community service and a drug program would have been much more beneficial to my child than this lifelong stigma which will follow him no matter where he goes.
totally legalize it
I HAVE HAD A FEW THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER.IT SHOULD BE LEGALIZED BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE REVENUE IT COULD POTENTIALLY CREATE FOR THE STATE.THE TAX DOLLARS THAT IT COULD CREATE WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARD GIVING THE ECONOMY A BOOST.FURTHERMORE I THINK IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARD REDUCING THE CRIME RATE.I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL PROPOSALS ABOUT TAXING IT BUT I THINK THE RESPONSIBLE SMOKER IS ACTUALLY BETTER OFF THE WAY THAT IT IS NOW BECAUSE THE TAXES WOULD BE A LOT MORE MONEY TO SPEND THAN THE FINES REALITICALY HANDED DOWN IN MOST STATES.I HAVE BEEN COUGHT SEVERAL TIMES AND PAID A FINE EVERY SINGLE TIME.I THINK I WOULD HAVE EASILY PAID TEN TIMES MORE IN TAXES IF IT WERE LEGALIZED.THE GOVERNMENT,I THINK,IS COMPLETELY IGNORANT TO WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON HERE SO I WILL POINT IT OUT FOR THEM.THEY ARE LETTING THUGS AND PUNKS TAKE IN ALL THEIRE POTENTIAL MONEY'S.LETS FACE IT,IF SMOKERS WANT TO SMOKE THEY ARE GOING TO SMOKE.SO IN MY OPINION THE GOV IS ONLY SCREWING THEMSELVES AND THE REST OF OUR AMAZING SOCIETY OUT OF A BETTER LIFE.SO GO AHEAD AND KEEP ON WITH THIS SENSELESS PROHIBITION.I HAVE NO PROBLEM SITTING IN MY LAZY BOY AND KEEPING THEM POTENTIAL TAX DOLLARS IN MY POCKET SO I CAN BUY MORE WEED.I AM NO ROCKET SCIENTIST BUT I SAY LEGALIZE IT SO ALL OF SOCIETY CAN BENEFIT FROM IT.I PERSONALLY DONT REALLY CARE WHAT THEY DO IM STILL SMOKIN FOR LESS MONEY THAN I WOULD IF THEY LEGALIZED IT.
Marijuana Is Not Bad
There is no possible way marijuana is bad for you. So what if you're child, or you cant get into a certain school because of it? Do you realize the reason it was made illegal was because "it makes black men sleep with our white women"? Do you? Do you understand that concept? That means marijuana is not illegal for being a 'drug', in which it is an 'herb', just like oregano, thyme, rosemary, etc. Marijuana is the best pain killer with ZERO negative side effects, unlike asprin or advil or whatever, which may I add have been proven to cause cancer. I have headaches all the time, and I have insomnia. There is no cure for me other than marijuana, and I don't want to cure it with anything other than the herb itself. Advil and asprin and exedrin, no matter what dosage I take, won't cure my headaches. My body has built an incredible immunity to melatonin, and it has no effect on me no matter what dosage I take. Marijuana eases my pain, and relieves a lot of my stess. I am 18 years old, I can barely hold a job because of how stressed I get. I have had a bad life with bad experiences, marijuana does nothing but help me live. And guess what, I'm going to college because marijuana has inspired me as well. It does not put me down, rather, it lifts me up and encourages me to push on, because someday, I will find a worth for living.
Thank you for hearing me out. By the way, I live in New Mexico if that helps you, if that doesn't, I have horrible anxiety. I had a heart attack not too long ago because I am a person who, pardon my french, gives a shit about everything. I am in no way apathetic, I am in fact opposite of apathetic. I cared about a girl, and we dated for 3 years and had plans to move together and get married, things fell worse and we couldn't be together any longer, when I heard her say that to me, my mother took me to the emergency room. It turns out, my anxiety came from caffeine and cigarettes. So I quit both on the spot. They asked if I did any other drug, pharmaceutical or other, which I didn't then. But I did my research on cannabis, and I learned a lot. Weed has done absolutely nothing bad to me, it has opened my eyes, and I am on my journey to become a marijuana activist. And I haven't found any other joy in life besides this other than music, video games, sleeping, eating, and cuddling with a girlfriend.
I do not believe smoking marijuana or possession of marijuana is a crime, you are not hurting anyone, and you are not hurting yourself, therefore, it is not a crime. If marijuana will not become legalized because of the ignorant selfish foolish government, it needs to be decriminalized by a great amount. They have spent a lot of money which could be used for a much better and much more useful service or purpose, but right now.. the money is being wasted. Just like Wall Street, and what do we see them as? Idiots who made horrible mistakes, which the government is for illegalizing marijuana.
Open your eyes.
Check my blog on myspace if you would like. Its worth reading. http://www.myspace.com/tos_serpent_1
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