| Photo: Zazzle |
Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Tiverton) has again introduced legislation to decriminalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana in Rhode Island.
Possession of any amount of marijuana is currently a criminal offense, punishable by up to a year in jail and $500 fine, reports Katherine Gregg at The Providence Journal.
Under Edwards’ proposal which he is introducing for the second year in a row, possession of an ounce or less of pot would instead be a civil offense, subject to a $150 fine.
“My intent with this legislation remains the same: to provide some relief to the taxpayers of our state,” Edwards said. “In these difficult times, we must look for ways to cut costs wherever we can.
| Photo: Ballotpedia |
| Rep. John G. Edwards: “Rhode Islanders should not be footing the bill to keep people in jail due to simple possession charges” |
”Rhode Islanders should not be footing the bill to keep people in jail due to simple possession charges,” Edwards said. “It’s a huge waste of taxpayer dollars.”
According to Edwards, making the penalty for an ounce or less of marijuana a civil offense rather than a criminal offense would also spare people — especially young adults — from having a criminal record that could potentially make it difficult to get a good job.
“A youthful indiscretion should not be something that ruins a person’s chance to become a teacher, fireman or even volunteer in a child’s classroom,” he said.
“It still amazes me that this is even an issue,” commented “Average Joe” on the Journal‘s website.
“Coming from a person who does not smoke marijuana, I think that it should be legal altogether.”
