Search Results reduce penalties

Maryland Medical Marijuana Defense Bill On Verge Of Passing

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 11, 2011 Legislation, Medical

After a nine-year effort, one Maryland lawmaker may finally succeed this year in his quest to reduce criminal penalties for medical marijuana use.

Sen. David Brinkley (R-Frederick County) is one of the lead sponsors of a bill that would allow medical marijuana users to be found not guilty on criminal possession charges and would establish a study at a research university regarding the use of medicinal cannabis in general, reports Meg Tully at The Frederick News-Post.

The Maryland House of Delegates gave the bill a preliminary OK on Saturday. If the House acts — as scheduled — to vote on it Monday, then Brinkley said he thought the bill would become law.

CT Lawmakers Look At Medical Marijuana And Decrim

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 14, 2011 Legislation, Medical, News

With a recent Quinnipiac University poll showing overwhelming 79 percent support for medical marijuana, the Legislature and governor appear poised to reform cannabis laws in Connecticut.

A hearing began on Monday to discuss legalizing marijuana for people with serious medical problems and decriminalizing small amounts of it for recreational users, reports Jeff Stoecker at NBC Connecticut.

“Our state should not encourage illegal drug possession and use; however, possession of small amounts of illicit substances and related paraphernalia for personal use should not leave a person with a life-long criminal record,” said Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, a Democrat who represents New Haven and Hamden, of the decrim bill.

California Bill Would Keep Marijuana Growers Out Of Prison

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 22, 2011 Growing, Legislation

Photo: Stuff Stoners Like

Legislation to keep Californians convicted of illegal marijuana cultivation out of state prisons has been introduced by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco).

Assembly Bill 1017 would set a maximum sentence of one year in county jail for people convicted of illegal cultivation, reports Peter Hecht at The Sacramento Bee. Current California law regards cannabis growing as a felony, with up to three years in state prison, and even stiffer sentences if the cultivation is connected to illegal sales or trafficking.

The bill would also make it easier for non-medical marijuana growers to be charged with a misdemeanor instead of a felony, according to Ammiano’s spokesman, Quintin Mecke. “It will make everything a wobbler,” Mecke said.

Washington: Hearing Set On Bill To Legalize Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on January 8, 2010 Legislation, News

seethru.co.uk

Available at your local liquor store? Yes, in Washington, if HB 2401 passes.

If you want to be able to grow, sell, or smoke marijuana legally in the state of Washington, next Wednesday you may want to be in OIympia, the state capitol, reports Jerry Cornfield at the Everett HeraldNet.

At 1:30 p.m. on January 13, the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee will consider House Bill 2401, which would have Washington treat marijuana much like it does alcohol.

The bill is sponsored by Democratic Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson.

If the bill is passed, those 21 or older won’t face criminal penalties for possessing, transporting, or using cannabis, the HeraldNet reports.

However, growing and selling marijuana would still be unlawful, as only state-licensed growers would be allowed to cultivate pot, and only state-licensed stores would be allowed to sell it.

Like with booze, smoking and driving are a no-no, as is providing pot to minors.

Under HB 2401, marijuana could be bought at state liquor stores. A hefty tax would be added to the herb, with proceeds going to drug education and rehabilitation programs.

New Poll: Majority Of Americans Support Marijuana Legalization

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on December 9, 2009 Culture, News

addictionrecoveryhope.com

America has a Marijuana Majority, according to a new poll.

More than half of adults in the United States are ready to legalize marijuana, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. According to the new poll, 53 per cent of respondents support legalization, while 43 per cent are opposed.

Support for legalization is highest among Democrats at 61 percent. Independents favor legalizing pot with 55 percent, but only 43 percent of Republicans want to legalize.

Less than 10 per cent of respondents support the legalization of other drugs, such as ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.

The use of marijuana is illegal in the U.S. except in some regulated cases of medical use in 13 states. The amount allowed for such purposes varies depending on the state. Some states have passed laws to reduce penalties for possession of small, “personal use” amounts of marijuana (“decriminalization”).

Study: Pot Use Growing Fast Among Older Americans

By Alex Halperin on September 14, 2016 News

The big question is which pharmaceuticals it could replace.

Here’s your daily round-up of pot news, excerpted from the newsletter WeedWeek.

A CDC study confirms that older Americans are the fastest growing group of users in the country. Use by Americans over 65 climbed 333% between 2002 and 2014. For those 55 to 64, it climbed 455%. See the study here.

Wichita Kansas Looks to Decriminalize Cannabis in 2015

By Jack Daniel on December 30, 2014 Follow that story, Legalize It, Legislation

Azel Praer/Flickr

The seeds of change are sprouting in Kansas

The way that the laws are currently written, you really do not want to get busted with weed in Wichita, Kansas…or any part of Kansas for that matter.
A first-time offense for simple pot possession in Kansas will earn you a misdemeanor charge on your record, up to a $2,500 fine, and even a year in jail. Get popped a second time and you could be looking at a felony.
But if the pro-cannabis advocacy group Kansas for Change has their way, that may be about to change for the better.

Three Ridiculous Pot Laws in Texas (Out of Many)

By William Breathes on December 18, 2014 News, Say what?

So, there’s more good news on the marijuana legalization front, and this time, it’s coming to us straight from the Lone Star state.
This week, Texas State Representative Joe Moody introduced a bill that could potentially reduce the current state penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana. Which, frankly, is needed. Marijuana laws in Texas are pretty darn ridiculous in their current state.

Majority of NFL Players Polled Say Weed No Worse Than Alcohol

By Jack Daniel on August 28, 2014 Culture, Follow that story, Legalize It

In a January interview with The New Yorker magazine, President Obama now famously stated, “As has been well documented, I smoked pot as a kid, and I view it as a bad habit and a vice, not very different from the cigarettes that I smoked as a young person up through a big chunk of my adult life. I don’t think it is more dangerous than alcohol.”
Since that interview, ESPN sent a reporter into NFL locker rooms across the league asking 100 professional football players whether or not they agree with President Obama’s comments. The players’ replies are not very surprising, but unfortunately, neither is the NFL’s reaction to just blow it off.

Colorado initiative would remove any fines and sentences for cannabis possession in Colorado

By William Breathes on July 29, 2014 Legalize It, News

While Coloradans did legalize limited amounts of pot for adults 21 and up in 2012, we didn’t make all cannabis possession legal and, in fact, you can still be fined and even arrested for having more than one ounce on you at any given time.
One Colorado activist is trying to change that with a ballot initiative that would remove pot penalties from the books. Proposed ballot initiative #3 would eradicate all fines and sentences for the possession of cannabis, and guaranteeing that in the Colorado Constitution.
But its proponents have just one more week to collect the required signatures, and efforts are lagging.

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