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Ciudad Juárez: Caught in the Crossfire
A panel will discuss the wave of violence that has affected Ciudad Juárez and the impact it has for citizen security on both sides of the U.S. and Mexico border.
In The Trenches
Press Release: PhillyNORML Statement on Local Marijuana Change
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Rob Dougherty [email protected]
Derek Rosenzweig [email protected]
Chris Goldstein [email protected]
Philadelphia is not decriminalizing pot
Yesterday Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams announced a change in how minor marijuana possession offenses will be treated. To be clear: Philly is not decriminalizing cannabis. However, the shift in prosecutor and court procedures will treat marijuana consumers less harshly while saving the city a significant chunk of public safety resources.
PhillyNORML welcomes the change. Arrests for minor marijuana offenses have been growing steadily over the last 5 years. In 2008 there were 4716 adults who faced the stand-alone violation of possession less than 30 grams. There is also a racial disparity to the arrests with over 70% being black men.
Again, the pragmatic procedure shift cannot be described as "decriminalization" because Pennsylvania state law still classifies marijuana possession as the lowest level of criminal offense; a Class-A Criminal Misdemeanor.
Specifically, the proposed procedure change for marijuana will see a policy made of common practice. Most offenders currently arrested for less than 30 grams in the city plead to disorderly conduct or other lesser offenses. This keeps a drug conviction off their record and allows for a more lenient sentence than the up to 30 days in jail that a pot conviction could net.
DA Williams, with the backing of the state Supreme Court, are proposing to have offenders simply pay a fine and go to a diversionary court to streamline the process. This will immediately take the marijuana arrest burden off of the criminal courts. The proposed change would also result in a tangibly less traumatic experience for Philadelphia cannabis consumers who run afoul of prohibition laws.
PhillyNORML welcomes an open debate with legislators and the public on the prospect of decriminalizing marijuana in Pennsylvania. There are almost 30,000 marijuana arrests in PA every year, most are for minor possession.
www.phillynorml.org
CONTACT:
Chris Goldstein: [email protected]
In The Trenches
Press Release: Maryland Senate Committee Approves Medical Marijuana Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
APRIL 6, 2010
Maryland Senate Committee Approves Medical Marijuana Bill
By 7-4 vote, Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee OKs Bill to Provide Qualified Patients With Safe Access to Medical Marijuana
CONTACT: Mike Meno, MPP director of communications â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦ 202-905-2030 or [email protected]
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND â Last night, Marylandâs Judicial Proceedings Committee voted 7-4 to pass SB 627, a bill that would provide qualified patients with safe access to medical marijuana and protection from arrest for using the medicine that works best for them. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
        âThis vote represents the biggest victory to date for supporters of an effective medical marijuana law in Maryland,â said Dan Riffle, a legislative analyst with the Marijuana Policy Project. âI look forward to a productive discussion on the Senate floor, and I sincerely hope Maryland legislators do all in their power to get this bill passed and ensure Marylandâs most vulnerable citizens donât have to spend another year living without effective medicine or in fear of arrest.â Â
        Sponsored by Sen. David Brinkley (R-Frederick), a two-time cancer survivor, and co-sponsored by Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Takoma Park) and key members of the Senate leadership, including Senate President Thomas V. âMikeâ Miller (D-Clinton), SB 267 would not only protect patients from arrest but also allow pharmacies or other similar dispensing entities to distribute marijuana to patients.
      Currently 14 other states, including New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Maine, have medical marijuana laws that provide qualified patients with safe access and protection from arrest. The District Council of Washington, D.C. is working on a medical marijuana law expected to be implemented by the end of this year.
        With more than 124,000 members and supporters nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. For more information, please visit www.mpp.org.
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In The Trenches
Americans for Safe Access: April Activist Newsletter
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In The Trenches
Press Release: Speakers Make Case for Decriminalizing Marijuana to New Hampshire Senate Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
APRIL 6, 2010
Speakers Make Case for Decriminalizing Marijuana to New Hampshire Senate Committee
HB 1653 Would Remove Criminal Penalties for Possession of Quarter-Ounce of Marijuana, Replace with a Fine of Up to $200
CONTACT: Matt Simon, NH Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policyâ¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦(603) 391-7450
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE â Today, a panel of witnesses told the New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee how a proposed bill to decriminalize marijuana in the state would save law enforcement costs, allow police to focus on more serious crimes, and stop wasting resources arresting otherwise law-abiding citizens who choose to use a substance that is safer than alcohol.Â
           Sponsored by Rep. Steve Lindsey (D-Keene), HB 1653 would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to a quarter-ounce of marijuana and replace them with a fine of up to $200. Last month, the bill passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan 214-137 vote.
           âEven though most offenders in New Hampshire donât actually get sentenced to jail for possessing one or two marijuana cigarettes, our state still goes through the expensive process of arresting these people, prosecuting them, and branding them with criminal recordsâall for using a substance that by any objective standard is safer than alcohol,â said Matt Simon, executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy. âThe conclusion reached by every study Iâve ever read on this subject is that the harshness of penalties has little or nothing to do with an individualâs choice to use or not use marijuana.â
           âI believe passage of this bill would simply mean weâve gotten smarter,â said Rep. Joel Winters (D-Manchester). âThat police would be able to waste less time dealing with marijuana users and have more time and resources freed up for dealing with serious crimes.âÂ
           In 2008, 65 percent of voters in neighboring Massachusetts voted to remove criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana and replace them with a $100 fine. Twelve states across the country, including Ohio, Mississippi, and North Carolina, have passed marijuana decriminalization laws.Â
Under current New Hampshire law, possession of any amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor offense, carrying a potential penalty of up to one year in jail, a $2,000 fine, and a criminal conviction that could damage someoneâs ability to find employment, secure government benefits, or qualify for student financial aid.
The bill would also require parents of offenders younger than 18 to be informed of the offense, and underage offenders would have to complete a drug awareness program within one year of the violation, or face a $1,000 fine.
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Since When do Rockstars Know Anything About Drugs?
Sting's call for an end to the war on drugs is getting some good press, and it sounds like the drug warriors aren't too pleased about it:
How classy. I think it's pretty telling that Sting, an A-list international celebrity, was proud to associate himself with this cause, while the DARE spokesperson who chides him for it chose to do so anonymously. It's obvious who is more embarrassed by their viewpoint.
Note to anti-drug zealots: if your argument sounds ridiculous even to you, to such an extent that you don't even want your name attached to it, then just don't talk to the media. I know it sucks to see the political climate changing before your eyes. I know you canât bear the thought that mainstream entertainers can now come out against the drug war and get nothing but positive press. But your stupid ideas are what got you into this mess in the first place, so opening your mouth right now isn't going help at all.
DARE's only accomplishment here was to erase any doubt about whether Sting's announcement is a big deal.
"Sting should stick to singing and not meddle in matters he doesn't understand. We do not need pop stars coming out and making irresponsible statements like that," said a spokesperson for DARE, which teaches schoolchildren about the dangers of drug use. [Daily News & Analysis]
How classy. I think it's pretty telling that Sting, an A-list international celebrity, was proud to associate himself with this cause, while the DARE spokesperson who chides him for it chose to do so anonymously. It's obvious who is more embarrassed by their viewpoint.
Note to anti-drug zealots: if your argument sounds ridiculous even to you, to such an extent that you don't even want your name attached to it, then just don't talk to the media. I know it sucks to see the political climate changing before your eyes. I know you canât bear the thought that mainstream entertainers can now come out against the drug war and get nothing but positive press. But your stupid ideas are what got you into this mess in the first place, so opening your mouth right now isn't going help at all.
DARE's only accomplishment here was to erase any doubt about whether Sting's announcement is a big deal.
Blog
UPDATE: Philadelphia DA on Philly's "Decrim"
Earlier today, I blogged about Philadelphia embracing a sort of decriminalization of minor marijuana possession based on an article that appeared today in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
It appears that article not only caught my attention, but also that of a lot of Philadelphians, who have been calling up the DA's office all day. This afternoon, District Attorney Seth Williams issued the following statement of clarification:
Based upon inquiries to this office it appears that some confusion exists regarding potential changes in charging policy when it comes to minimal amounts of marijuana. "We are not decriminalizing marijuana--any effort like that would be one for the legislature to undertake. The penalty available for these minimal amount offenses remains exactly the same. What we are doing is properly dealing with cases involving minimal amounts of marijuana in the most efficient and cost effective process possible. Those arrested for these offenses will still be restrained, identified and processed by police in police custody. They will still have to answer to the charges, but they will be doing so in a speedier and more efficient process. We want to use valuable court resources in the best way possible and we believe that means giving minor drug offenders the option of getting into diversionary programs, get drug education or enter drug treatment centers. Again we are NOT decriminalizing marijuana, and the penalty for these offenses remains the same."It looks like DA Williams is trying to have it both ways. The Inquirer story--which Williams doesn't contradict in his statement--says that small-time pot offenders will be sent to a special "quality of life" court and fined. While Williams is correct that it would be that state legislature that woud decriminalize marijuana possession, It is a sort of de facto partial decriminalization, with people arrested, but not processed in the criminal courts or jailed upon conviction. I'll try to have this cleared up by the time we publish the Chronicle story about it on Friday.
Blog
Marijuana: Philadelphia to Decriminalize Possession of Up to 30 Grams, But Arrests to Continue Anyway
People caught with 30 grams (a bit more than an ounce) or less of marijuana in Philadelphia will no longer be charged with criminal misdemeanors, but with civil summary offenses under a new policy that will go into effect later this month. Fines are expected to be in the $200 to $300 range.
But while pot smokers won't face criminal charges, they will still be arrested, handcuffed, searched, detained, and fingerprinted. Then, their cases will be heard by a special "quality of life" court that is already in use for things like dealing with unruly Eagles fans and public drinking.
"We're not going stop locking people up," Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman, told the Philadelphia Inquirer, . Marijuana possession remained illegal, he said. "We're going to stop people for it. . . . Our officers are trained to do that. Whether or not they make it through the charging process, that's up to the D We can't control that. Until they legalize it, we're not going to stop."
According to the Inquirer, the policy shift is the result of a collaboration between new District Attorney Seth Williams and a pair of Pennsylvania Supreme Court judges. It is part of an effort to unclog the city's overwhelmed court dockets.
Under Williams' predecessor, former DA Lynn Abraham, police arrested an average of 3,000 people a year for small-time pot possession, about 75% of them black. That figure represents roughly 5% of the city's criminal caseload.
About another 2,000 are arrested for marijuana distribution and 2,500 more are arrested for possession of more than 30 grams. Overall, enforcing drug prohibition has resulted in about 18,000 arrests a year in Philadelphia, or nearly one-third of the entire criminal caseload.
"We have to be smart on crime," Williams told the Inquirer. "We can't declare a war on drugs by going after the kid who's smoking a joint on 55th Street. We have to go after the large traffickers."
Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille, one of the two justices who worked with Williams on the policy shift, said decrim was "appropriate" for such a small-time offense. "It's a minor crime when you're faced with major drug crimes." Removing such cases from the criminal courts, he said, "unclogs the system."
Philadelphia NORML has been quietly lobbying city officials for the change. "The marijuana consumers of Philadelphia welcome this," said chapter head Chris Goldstein. "This is a very progressive thing to do on the part of the city," Goldstein said of the new policy. "I couldn't be happier about this."
Goldstein was much less enthused by the continued arrests policy. "It is completely absurd," he said. "It's harsh. For minor marijuana possession, it's very harsh treatment."
In most states and localities with decriminalization laws or policies, people are merely issued a ticket after police seize their stash. Still, this is a quarter-step forward for Philadelphia.
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In The Trenches
Press Release: Sarah Palin Offered $25,000 by Marijuana Policy Reform Advocates
MEDIA ADVISORY â For event on Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at 11 a.m. PDTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
APRIL 5, 2010
Sarah Palin Offered $25,000 by Marijuana Policy Reform Advocates
Palin Addresses Alcohol Industry Gathering; MPP-Backed Campaign Offers Her $25,000 to Make Similar Speech to its Supporters
CONTACT: In Nevada: Dave Schwartz, campaign manager, Nevadans for Sensible Marijuana Laws (702-727-1081 or [email protected]). In Washington: Steve Fox, director of state campaigns, Marijuana Policy Project (202-905-2042 or [email protected]).
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA â Tomorrow, at Caesarâs Palace, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin will deliver the keynote address at the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Americaâs national convention. Immediately following that speech, Dave Schwartz, the campaign manager for Nevadans for Sensible Marijuana Laws (NSML), will offer Palin $25,000 to deliver a similar address to supporters of a regulated marijuana market in this country.
        In exchange for the $25,000, Palin will be asked to speak at one of NSMLâs upcoming events, acknowledge the fact that marijuana is just as legitimate a recreational substance as the substance she is talking about at the WSWA convention (in fact, it is objectively much safer), and endorse taxing and regulating marijuana in Nevada and throughout the U.S.
        âThereâs no reason why former governor Palin should reject our offer,â Schwartz said. âThe health effects of the substance she is talking about at the WSWA convention cause 33,000 deaths in the U.S. annually. The comparable number for marijuana is zero. Alcohol is also associated with violent crime and other destructive acts, while marijuana is not. If Gov. Palin is comfortable endorsing that product, we are certain she will endorse ours. We look forward to negotiating with her team to find a time that works in her schedule.
        âLet me make one thing clear. In making this offer, we are not intending to attack the alcohol industry or alcohol users,â Schwartz continued. âRather, weâre highlighting the fact that marijuana is objectively less harmful than alcohol. It makes no sense to keep marijuana in the criminal market while a former vice-presidential candidate celebrates the alcohol industry. We want legitimate businesspeople in Nevada to benefit from the sales of marijuana, and we want adults to be free to choose whichever substance they prefer âmarijuana or alcohol â when they relax after work.â         Â
        With more than 124,000 members and supporters nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit www.mpp.org.
        Nevadans for Sensible Marijuana Laws is a ballot advocacy group formed in Nevada to support a 2012 ballot initiative to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol in the state. It receives significant funding and support from the Marijuana Policy Project.
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Event
Lindenhurst Medical Cannabis Educational Meeting
The Illinois Cannabis Patients Association and Americans for Safe Access will host an informative meeting and discussion on Senate Bill 1381, the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Ac
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New Hampshire Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Senate Committee Hearing
New Hampshireâs Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on HB 1653, a bill that would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to one-quarter ounce of marijuana, and replace them with a
In The Trenches
Press Advisory: New Hampshire Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Gets Senate Committee Hearing on Tuesday
MEDIA ADVISORYÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
APRIL 5, 2010
New Hampshire Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Gets Senate Committee Hearing on Tuesday
Bill Has Already Been Passed By House, Would Reduce Penalty for Possession of Quarter-Ounce of Marijuana to a Fine of Up to $200
CONTACT: Matt Simon, NH Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policyâ¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦(603) 391-7450
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE â Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 6, New Hampshireâs Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on HB 1653, a bill that would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to one-quarter ounce of marijuana, and replace them with a fine of up to $200.
Under current law, possession of any amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor offense, carrying a potential penalty of up to one year in jail, a $2,000 fine, and a criminal conviction that could damage someoneâs ability to find employment, secure government benefits, or qualify for student financial aid.
Sponsored by Rep. Steve Lindsey (D-Keene) HB 1653 would also require parents of offenders younger than 18 to be informed of the offense, and underage offenders would have to complete a drug awareness program within one year of the violation, or face a $1,000 fine.
           Last month, the bill passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan 214 to 137 vote.
WHAT: Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on marijuana decriminalization bill
WHO: Witnesses will testify in favor of the bill
WHERE: State House Room 103
WHEN: Tuesday, April 6, at 2:30 p.m.
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