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Poll: Over 60 Percent of New Jersey Voters Favor Decriminalizing Marijuana

June 11th

TRENTON, NJ — An overwhelming majority of New Jerseyans support reducing the penalty for simple marijuana possession from a criminal offense to a small fine similar to a traffic ticket, according to a new poll of likely voters by Lake Research Partners.  The poll was commissioned by the Drug Policy Alliance.

The poll found that 61 percent of those asked support a proposal to make possession of two ounces or less of marijuana a civil violation.  Currently, possession of this amount is a criminal offense that carries a penalty of up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.  A conviction also results in a criminal record that cannot be expunged for at least five years.

The poll also found that support for decriminalization is broad-based, traversing North, Central and South Jersey, and that it bridges gender, race and partisan divides.  An overwhelming 82 percent of those polled said that they would either be more likely to vote for an elected official who supported reducing penalties for marijuana possession or that it would make no difference in their vote.

Not only is New Jersey poised to catch up to a growing contingent of other states that have already decriminalized or otherwise reduced penalties for marijuana possession, it. . . . . READ MORE

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Vermont Gov. Signs Bill Marijuana Decriminalization Bill into Law

June 9th

MONTPELIER, VT – Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) signed into law Thursday a bill decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana. That makes Vermont the 17th state to decriminalize, including all of its neighboring New England states except New Hampshire.

Introduced by Rep. Christopher Pearson (P-Burlington) and passed with tripartisan support, House Bill 200 removes criminal penalties for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and replaces them with a civil fine, similar to a traffic ticket. People under 21 will be required to undergo substance abuse screening.

Under current state law, possession of up to two ounces of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail for a first offense and up to two years in jail for a subsequent offense.

“This change just makes common sense,” Shumlin said as he signed the bill. “Our limited resources should be focused on reducing abuse and addiction of opiates like heroin and meth rather than cracking down on people for having very small amounts of marijuana.”

Earlier this week, Shumlin signed a package of bills aimed at reducing problems associated with opiate use, including measures designed to reduce opiate overdose deaths.

“We applaud Gov. Shumlin, the state’s top law enforcement officials, and the legislature for their leadership and support of this importan. . . . . READ MORE

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Vermont Gov. Signs Bill Marijuana Decriminalization Bill into Law

June 8th

MONTPELIER, VT – Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) signed into law Thursday a bill decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana. That makes Vermont the 17th state to decriminalize, including all of its neighboring New England states except New Hampshire.

Introduced by Rep. Christopher Pearson (P-Burlington) and passed with tripartisan support, House Bill 200 removes criminal penalties for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and replaces them with a civil fine, similar to a traffic ticket. People under 21 will be required to undergo substance abuse screening.

Under current state law, possession of up to two ounces of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail for a first offense and up to two years in jail for a subsequent offense.

“This change just makes common sense,” Shumlin said as he signed the bill. “Our limited resources should be focused on reducing abuse and addiction of opiates like heroin and meth rather than cracking down on people for having very small amounts of marijuana.”

Earlier this week, Shumlin signed a package of bills aimed at reducing problems associated with opiate use, including measures designed to reduce opiate overdose deaths.

“We applaud Gov. Shumlin, the state’s top law enforcement officials, and the legislature for their leadership and support of this importan. . . . . READ MORE

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New York State Assembly Passes Bill to Fix Marijuana Decriminalization Law

May 30th

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ALBANY, NY —  The New York State Assembly passed a marijuana arrest reform bill Wednesday that could end the state’s racially biased, costly and unlawful marijuana arrest crusade.

The legislation, Assembly Bill 6716,  fixes New York’s 1977 marijuana decriminalization law by making possession of small amounts marijuana in public view a violation punishable by a fine, instead of a criminal arrest.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where a similar measure, Senate Bill 3105, has been sponsored by Sen. Daniel Squadron. Governor Andrew Cuomo has identified this legislation as one of his key priorities for the 2013 legislative session.

New York State decriminalized personal possession of marijuana in 1977, finding that arresting people for small amounts of marijuana “needlessly scars thousands of lives whil. . . . . READ MORE

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Missouri House Committee Hears Marijuana Decriminalization Testimony

May 18th

cuffs for cannabis

JEFFERSON CITY, MO — A committee in the Missouri House heard testimony on a bill to decriminalize the possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana Friday, but the hearing came too late in the legislative season for the bill to advance any further this year.

Testimony on House Bill 512 was heard by the Downsizing State Government Committee on the final day of the legislative session, eliminating the possibility that the full House of Representatives will vote on the bill this year.  Nevertheless, marijuana reform activists are calling the hearing a “win.”

 

“Receiving a hearing lends greater credibility to the bill and will likely make more legislators receptive to the idea next year,” says John Payne of Missouri’s Show Me Cannabis.  “Political progress often feels almost interminably slow, but make no mistake, we are moving steadily forward.”

The bill would have made the possession of up to 35 grams (about 1.2 ounces) of marijuana or pot paraphernalia punishable only by a $250 fine, but it would still be a criminal offense—a class . . . . . READ MORE

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Vermont Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Heads to Governor

May 14th

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MONTPELIER, VT – A bill to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana has made it through the Vermont legislature, winning final approval Monday. Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) has said he supports it. If he indeed signs it, Vermont will become the 17th state to either decriminalize or legalize marijuana.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin is expected to sign the measure in coming weeks.

Senate Bill 48, sponsored by Sen. Joe Benning, and House Bill 200, sponsored by Rep. Chris Pearson, would impose a civil fine on possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. Under H. 200, a person under 21 who is found in possession of up to an ounce of marijuana would have to undergo substance abuse screening and possible treatment. That language was carried over in the final votes.

Under current state law, possession of up to two ounces of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail for a first offense and up to two years in jail fo. . . . . READ MORE

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Vermont Becomes the 17th State to Decriminalize Marijuana

May 13th

cannabis cuffs

MONTPELIER – State lawmakers gave final approval Monday to a measure that will decriminalize possession of limited amounts of marijuana in Vermont.

The bill will now be transmitted to Gov. Peter Shumlin, who is expected to sign it into law in coming weeks, at which time Vermont will become the 17th state in the nation to decriminalize or legalize marijuana.

“We applaud the Vermont Legislature for adopting this much-needed legislation and setting an example for other states in the region and around the country,” said Matt Simon, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project. “The exceptionally broad support demonstrated for this measure reflects the progress our nation is making toward adopting a new and more sensible approach to marijuana policy.

“The days of criminalizing people simply for using a substance less harmful than alcohol are coming to an end,” Simon said.

House Bill 200, introduced by Rep. Christopher Pearson (P-Burlington) with a tripartisan group of 38 co-sponsors, will remove criminal penalties for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and replace them with a civil fine, similar to a traffic ticket.

Those under age 21 would be required to undergo substance abuse screening. Under current state law, posse. . . . . READ MORE

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Vermont Legislature Passes Marijuana Decriminalization; Gov. Shumlin Expected to Sign Bill Into Law

May 13th

cannabis cuffs

MONTPELIER – State lawmakers gave final approval Monday to a measure that will decriminalize possession of limited amounts of marijuana in Vermont.

The bill will now be transmitted to Gov. Peter Shumlin, who is expected to sign it into law in coming weeks, at which time Vermont will become the 17th state in the nation to decriminalize or legalize marijuana.

“We applaud the Vermont Legislature for adopting this much-needed legislation and setting an example for other states in the region and around the country,” said Matt Simon, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project. “The exceptionally broad support demonstrated for this measure reflects the progress our nation is making toward adopting a new and more sensible approach to marijuana policy.

“The days of criminalizing people simply for using a substance less harmful than alcohol are coming to an end,” Simon said.

House Bill 200, introduced by Rep. Christopher Pearson (P-Burlington) with a tripartisan group of 38 co-sponsors, will remove criminal penalties for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and replace them with a civil fine, similar to a traffic ticket.

Those under age 21 would be required to undergo substance abuse screening. Under current state law, posse. . . . . READ MORE

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Vermont Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Passes Final Senate Vote

May 9th

cannabis cuffs

MONTPELIER, VT – A bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana passed a third, and final, reading in the Vermont Senate on Wednesday.  The bill, which as previously passed in the House, will be sent to the House of Representatives to sign off on amendments made by the Senate before sending it to Gov. Peter Shumlin for his signature.

The bill, House Bill 200introduced by Rep. Christopher Pearson (P-Burlington) with a tripartisan group of 38 co-sponsors, will remove criminal penalties for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and replace them with a civil fine, similar to a traffic ticket. Those under age 21 would be required to undergo substance abuse screening.

Under current state law, possession of up to two ounces of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail for a first offense and up to two years in jail for a subsequent offense.

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Vermont Senate Committee Approves Marijuana Decriminalization Bill

May 8th

cuffs for cannabis

MONTPELIER, VT – The Vermont Senate Committee on Judiciary approved a bill 4-1 on Tuesday that would decriminalize possession of limited amounts of marijuana.

It will now be considered by the full Senate. The House of Representatives gave final approval to the bill on April 16.

Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell and Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn testified in favor of the bill, and Gov. Peter Shumlin has also expressed support for such a proposal.

“Vermont is another step closer to a more sensible marijuana policy, and the change cannot come soon enough,” said Matt Simon, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project. “People should not be branded as criminals simply for using a substance that is objectively less harmful than alcohol, and there are certainly more serious crimes for law enforcement officials to address.

“I hope the Senate will join their colleagues in the House, the state’s top law enforcement officials, and the people of Vermont in supporting this com. . . . . READ MORE

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