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Marijuana Law Reform at the Statehouse 2012 [FEATURE]

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #720)

State legislatures have convened or are convening all around the country, and once again this year, marijuana decriminalization or legalization are hot topics at the statehouse. Legalization bills are pending in three states (as well as on the ballot as initiatives in Washington and almost certainly Colorado), decriminalization bills are alive in nine states, and bills that would improve existing decriminalization laws have been filed in two states.

And this is still early in the legislative season. Bills can still be introduced in many states, and bills that have already been introduced can advance or be killed. By around the beginning of May, a clearer picture should emerge, but 2012 is already looking to be even more active than last year when it comes to decriminalization and legalization bills.

There's a reason for that, said leading reformers.

"We're seeing more bills introduced, and they're having stronger and more sponsors," said Karen O'Keefe, state policy director for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). "We're also seeing more and more public support for decriminalization and legalization. We're approaching critical mass as more and more people see marijuana prohibition as a failed public policy, and in legislatures because of fiscal constraints and changing public sentiment."

"Each year, these bills are easier to introduce, there is less controversy, and the media reaction is generally neutral to positive," said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML. "Baby boomers, medical marijuana, the Internet, and the state of the economy have all had an impact, even, finally, on legislators and their staffs," he explained.

"Before 1996, nobody invited NORML; now our staff is regularly going to meetings requested by legislators around the country," St. Pierre recalled. "First, we couldn't get them to return our phone calls; now they're calling us. Everything is in play because of activists around the country doing years of work."

That contact with legislators has led to results, St. Pierre said. "We've been involved in almost all of this legislation. Either we helped write it or legislators contacted us for deep background and we're testifying at public hearings on these bills."

MPP has been busy, too, O'Keefe said. "We have paid lobbyists in Rhode Island and Vermont, and one of our legislative analysts, Matt Simon, is from New Hampshire and has been working on bills up there," she said.

Perhaps not surprisingly, O'Keefe thought the prospects of passage were best in Rhode Island and Vermont. "In Rhode Island, more than half of both chambers are cosponsors of the decriminalization bill, while in Vermont, Gov. Shumlin has been very supportive, and for the first time we have a Republican sponsor in the Senate -- we already had one in the House," she said.

Getting a marijuana bill through a state legislature is a frustrating, time-consuming process, and there is a chance that none of these bills will pass this year. But there is also a chance some will, and some will pass eventually, if not this year, next year, or the year after.

Here is what is currently going on around marijuana law reform at the state house (compiled from our Legislative Center, with additional information from MPP's list of bills and from cantaxreg.com):

Legalization Bills

Massachusetts


Thirteen months ago, Rep. Ellen Story introduced House Bill 1371, which would allow the legal and regulated sale of marijuana to adults. It was referred to the Joint Committee on Judiciary then, and it is still pending. A hearing is scheduled on March 6.

New Hampshire

Last month, Rep. Calvin Pratt (R) introduced HB 1705, which would allow people 21 and over to possess up to an ounce and allow for regulated retail and wholesale sales. Marijuana would be taxed at a rate of $45 an ounce at wholesale and at 19% of the wholesale price at retail. The bill is now before the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.

Washington

Last year, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson (D) and 13 cosponsors introduced House Bill 1550, which would replace prohibition with regulation. It and a companion bill, Senate Bill 5598, are still both alive. Dickerson's bill is pending in the House Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness.

Decriminalization Bills

Arizona


On January 9, Rep. John Fillmore (R) filed House Bill 2044, which would make possession of up to an ounce of marijuana a petty offense punishable by up to a $400 fine. Simple possession is currently a Class 6 felony in Arizona.

Hawaii

In March 2011, the Hawaii Senate passed Senate Bill 1460, which would reduce the penalty for possession of less than an ounce to a civil fine capped at $100. The current law specifies a jail stay of up to 30 days and a $1,000 fine. That bill was carried over and is now before the House Health, Public and Military Affairs, and Judiciary committees. Also carried over is House Bill 544, which would make possession of less than an ounce a violation instead of a misdemeanor and impose a maximum $500 fine. That bill is before the House Judiciary Committee.

Illinois

In January 2011, Rep. LaShawn Ford introduced House Bill 100, which would reduce the penalty for possession of up to 28.35 grams of marijuana to a $500 fine for a first offense, $750 for the second, and $1,000 for a subsequent offense. It would also reduce the charge from a misdemeanor to a petty offense. Under current law, possession of up to an ounce can be penalized with up to six months in jail and a $2,500 fine. The bill has been referred to House Rules Committee, and is still alive in Illinois' two-year session.

Indiana

Last month, Sen. Karen Tallian introduced Senate Bill 347, which would reduce several marijuana-related penalties, including by making possession of up to three ounces of marijuana a civil infraction, punishable by up to a $500 fine and court costs. SB 347 was referred to the Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters.

New Hampshire

Last week, House Bill 1526, which would decriminalize possession of up to an ounce, got a hearing in the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. Sponsored by Rep. William Panek (R),the bill would mandate a maximum $100 fine. It also provides for notification of parents of minor offenders, who could be ordered to attend a drug awareness program.

New Jersey

Last month, Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D) introduced Assembly Bill 1465, which would reduce the penalty for 15 grams or less of marijuana to a civil penalty. The first violation would be punishable by a $150 fine, $200 fine for a second offense, and $500 after that. Any adult caught three times would be ordered to undertake a drug education program, as would any minor regardless of prior offenses. The bill is currently before the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Rhode Island

Last month, more than half of the Rhode Island House of Representatives cosponsored Rep. John Edwards' bill to fine adults for simple possession of marijuana and to sentence minors to drug awareness classes. The bill, House Bill 7092, was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Current law provides for up to a year in jail and $500 fine; the bill would make it a civil offense with a maximum $150 fine.

Tennessee

In February 2011, Rep. Mike Kernell introduced House Bill 1737, which would reduce the penalty for less than 1/8 of an ounce of marijuana to a fine between $250 and $2,500. Possession would remain a Class A misdemeanor, but the bill would remove the possibility of a year-long jail sentence. Fines would remain the same.  A companion bill, Senate Bill 1597, has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Both bills remain alive in the state's two-year legislative session.

Vermont

Last year, a tri-partisan group of legislators led by Rep. Jason Lorber filed House Bill 427, which would reduce the penalty for adults' possession of up to an ounce of marijuana to civil fine of up to $150. Minors would be sent to drug education and community service for a first offense, as would adults under 21 convicted of a second or subsequent offense. The current penalty for first offense possession of marijuana is a fine of up to $500 and/or up to six months in jail. Second offense possession is currently punishable by up to two years in prison and/or up to a $1,000 fine. The bill is still alive in the state's two-year legislative session. Last month, Sen. Joe Benning (R) and Sen. Philip Baruth (D) filed Senate Bill 134, which would reduce marijuana penalties, including by reducing the penalty for possession of up to two ounces of marijuana to a civil fine of up to $100. It has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Decriminalization Improvement Bills

New York


Last year, legislators filed bills aimed at removing New York City's reputation as the world's marijuana arrest capital. The state's current decriminalization law creates an exception for marijuana possessed in a public place and which is burning or open to the public view. The NYPD has used that exception to arrest more than 50,000 people a year on misdemeanor charges instead of issuing them tickets. In May, Sen. Mark Grisanti (R) filed Senate Bill 5187, while Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries introduced a companion bill, A 7620. Both bills were referred to their chambers’ Codes Committees and are still alive.

North Carolina

A bill that would reclassify possession of an ounce as an infraction instead of a misdemeanor has been filed in North Carolina. HB 324 increases the decrim amount from a half-ounce, but removes the automatic suspended sentence for a first offense.

Twelve states have decriminalized marijuana possession so far (and possession in small amounts at home is legal under the Alaska constitution), but between an initial burst of reform activity in the 1970s and Nevada's decriminalization in 2002, there were three decades of stagnation. Since then, three more states- -- California, Connecticut, and Massachusetts -- have come on board, and chances are more will follow shortly, Legalization remains a tougher nut to crack, but so far, there are opportunities in five states this year.

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

Loretta Nall (not verified)

While no bill has yet been filed Alabama may soon be added to this list. The bills dealing with prison overcrowding are possibly going to have decrim of small amounts included. Will keep everyone posted.
Thu, 02/09/2012 - 1:06pm Permalink
Brock (not verified)

In reply to by Loretta Nall (not verified)

I live in Alabama and I fully support all the like minded people that are working their asses off to try and get marijuana legal in any form. I would greatly appreciate if you guys could Alabama on your list of states. This nonsense has to end and sooner or later it will. I fully support what your all trying to do and hopefully one day very soon it will fully legal for the United States.

Fri, 02/10/2012 - 4:06pm Permalink

Why is Ohio never mentioned in any of these stories i keep reading?  We have TWO (2) ballot initiatives collecting final signatures and one bill lost in political hell.  The bill never will get past politicians because they quit doing anything without some huge corporate bribe, but the TWO (2)  ballot initiatives need mentioned. 

 

http://www.ohiommjballot.org/     and    http://www.omca2012.org/

Thu, 02/09/2012 - 1:56pm Permalink
Tom Higgins (not verified)

In reply to by DavePrice (not verified)

Dave's right on this,Ohio is poised to have MMJ if we can all pull together and get this done! It would be nice to see it mentioned on these Pro-MMJ sites.

Thu, 02/09/2012 - 7:05pm Permalink
digdug (not verified)

Kentucky State Senator Perry Clark has submitted Senate Bill 129. The Gatewood Galbraith Memorial Medical Marijuana Bill.

Thu, 02/09/2012 - 7:59pm Permalink
bhonze (not verified)

Hey go ahead and add Mississippi; Senator Deborah Dawkins has submitted HB 2522 for Medical Marijuana! Lets get out and call our Representatives and pass the word!!!!

Fri, 02/10/2012 - 11:58am Permalink
ADAM42012 (not verified)

WHAT ABOUT TEXAS!!! ARE WE GONNA BE THE LAST ONES OR WHAT!?!?

Fri, 02/10/2012 - 3:33pm Permalink
Anonymous8909 (not verified)

In reply to by ADAM42012 (not verified)

ya'll must not realize how hard headed South Carolina is lol

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 3:40pm Permalink
Simon smith (not verified)

The California state needs to legalize Marijuana , the system we live in is corrupt when i comes down to marijuana , the fact of the matter is that , about ppl from ages 18-60s buy alot of marijuana wether its illegal or legal, so do us a favor and have a ballad in California

Fri, 02/10/2012 - 3:54pm Permalink
Jason R (not verified)

http://show-mecannabis.com/

When they get enough (150,000) signatures by April, it will be on the ballot come November. Not a bill, but still a move in the right direction.

It is not just recreational aspects of these bills/initiatives which are beneficial, but also adding agricultural benefits for farmers who choose to grow hemp and then leading to an industry for hemp alone would generate millions of jobs nationwide and tons of revenue. Over 25,000 uses of hemp to replace non-renewable products would be a great thing for our environment was well as no pesticides are needed with cannabis. Seeds are a vegetable which contain ALL amino acids needed for healthy human development. I could go on forever, but most people on this site know about this information already.

Thanks.

Fri, 02/10/2012 - 4:04pm Permalink
Brock (not verified)

Alabama needs to be on your list as well. I side with Texas when it comes to concern. I fear that we may very well be the last states that get any notice. Please add us to your list.

Fri, 02/10/2012 - 4:10pm Permalink
Anonymous777 (not verified)

I had a feeling Louisiana wouldn't get listed. Seriously though, they should just legalize weed everywhere, it's just pointless to have it banned.

Fri, 02/10/2012 - 4:41pm Permalink
sailingfurther (not verified)

What about Georgia? Anything going on here? Everybody smokes marijuana and chain gangs for pot would seem morally irresponsible and fiscally criminal. Probably be the last ones!!

Sat, 02/11/2012 - 8:10pm Permalink
Richard Holzberlein (not verified)

What a shame cancer patients like myself have to jump through hoops to get a license to smoke marijuana when they pass laws selling alcohol on Sundays and make our Roads Dangerous with Drunk Drivers

Sounds to me like the USA is owned by the Devil Alcohol and Drug companies that advertise NON-STOP

How many of our kids do you want to see being killed by legal problems that have plagued society since christ

 

Dont Criticize it  ... Legalize it

Thu, 04/12/2012 - 10:39pm Permalink

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