Chronicle AM: France Marijuana Decrim, PA High Court Reins in Forfeiture, More... (5/26/17)

France is moving toward marijuana decriminalization, perhaps as early as September, Vermont legalization supporters still hold out hope, and more.

Vive la France!

New Hampshire Senate Committee Votes to Establish Commission to Study Marijuana Legalization. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to approve House Bill 215, which would create a 22-member commission to study"the possible impacts of changing state policy to treat marijuana in a manner similar to the way the state deals with alcohol and shall study the legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana including the specific issues related to growing, selling, taxing, limiting use, advertising, promoting, and otherwise regulating marijuana and marijuana-infused edible products." The bill has already passed the House and now heads for the Senate floor.

Vermont Legalization Supporters Seek Compromise. In the wake of Gov. Phil Scott's (R) veto of the Senate Bill 22 legalization measure, supporters are seeking to find a compromise that will make the governor comfortable signing off on legalization. Scott said he wanted more aggressive penalties for driving under the influence or smoking in front of children and clearer and harsher penalties for selling and providing marijuana to minors. But Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Richard Sears (D-Bennington), a legalization supporter, said while compromise was possible, it might not happen if Republicans don't agree to suspend legislative rules to allow the legislation to move more quickly during a two-day summer session.

Medical Marijuana

Prohibitionist Senators File CBD Research Bill. Two of the Senate's most ardent prohibitionists, International Narcotics Control caucus leaders Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) filed a bill to expand research into the medical benefits of cannabidiol and marijuana Thursday. The bill has not yet been assigned a number, nor is the text available on the congressional website, but the text can be viewed here. Feinstein authored a similar bill last session that went nowhere.

Asset Forfeiture

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Reins in Prosecutors on Civil Asset Forfeiture. In a unanimous decision Thursday, the state's highest court ruled that before seizing a property, prosecutors must prove it played a significant role in committing a crime, and it's value must be proportionate to the offense. The ruling came in the case of a 72-year-old Philadelphia woman whose $54,000 home and used minivan were seized in 2012 after her son was investigated for selling small amounts of marijuana. Her case has now been sent back to the lower courts to be decided in compliance with this ruling.

Sentencing

Hakeem Jeffries Files Federal Drug Charge Expungement Bill. US Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has filed House Resolution 2617, which would allow first-time, low-level, nonviolent drug possession offenders a change to expunge their convictions and clean up their records upon completion of court imposed probation. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

International

France Could Decriminalize Marijuana Possession as Soon as September. Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said Wednesday that the ministry is set to issue new rules under which someone caught with small amounts of pot would be cited and fined -- not arrested. The new rules could be in place "within three or four months," he said. Collomb's boss, newly-inaugurated President Emmanuel Macron had campaigned in favor of decriminalization and described marijuana prohibition as "posing a security problem."