CONCORD -- Using and selling marijuana would be legal under a bill debated by state legislators.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Charles Weed of Keene, told colleagues Wednesday that legalizing marijuana would give police more resources to tackle violent crime.
He also said that existing laws governing marijuana are too harsh and lead to users being jailed with people who use or sell much more dangerous drugs, such as cocaine and heroin.
"If people are convicted for soft-drug use, they're in a problem for the rest of their lives," Weed, a Democrat, told the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.
The bill is co-sponsored by two Republicans: Rep. Steve Vaillancourt, of Manchester, and Rep. Paul Ingbretson, of Pike. Weed and Ingbretson are also sponsoring bills to legalize medical marijuana use and allow farmers to grow industrial hemp, which is not a drug.
Vaillancourt called marijuana possession a "victimless crime" and said the drug is less harmful than legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco.
However, even some advocates said the bill goes too far. Matt Simon, a spokesman for the Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy, said it should be amended, although the group is collecting signatures in support of the bill.
"The way it is now, you could grow a field of marijuana, drive it across into Massachusetts," he said. "This is a place to start the discussion of what the best way is to change the policies."
Similar proposals have failed before. The attorney general's office and state health officials oppose the bill, along with groups representing police chiefs and county sheriffs.
State police Maj. David Kelly said marijuana use often leads to people trying harder drugs. "Decriminalization will come at the expense of society, of public safety, of children and of you," he said.
Simon Brown, head of the attorney general's criminal justice bureau, said police resources would be further stretched by legalization, not decreased, as supporters argued. He also said marijuana use has been shown by researchers to impair driving and can even lead to violence.
But police Officer Bradley Jardis, speaking on behalf of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a national group the supports legalization of marijuana, questioned the link to violence.
"In my experience, I've never gone to a fight call or domestic violence call where it's only because of marijuana," he said.
He also cited federal statistics showing that marijuana use has never been a primary cause of death.
State Health and Human Services offficials say about 10 percent of state residents use marijuana, with higher numbers among teenagers and young adults.
if you don't want your kids smoking weed, it's simple: DON'T LET THEM.
The household still falls under the jurisdiction of the parents. They can decide that it's illegal for their kids. They can search the kids rooms, give them drug tests, and dole out any punishment they see fit (within reason of course).
This all boils down to the fact that PARENTS need to do the parenting, not the government.
Well you can't legally drive while drinking either. If the same laws that govern alcohol consumption governed marijuana consumption I think it would be fine.
Look how hard it is to buy weed. That is to say, it's not hard at all. Government regulation would actually hurt drug dealers. Growing up it was always easier to get weed than booze.
Well look at the Netherlands it's legal over there and you have very little problems in fact they reckon that the Dutch openness to pot is one of the reason why there are very few addicts on the harder drugs.
I reckon though in a few years most countries will have leaglised it, the UK recently downgarded it to a class C drug and they will only really prosecute you for supplying.
lodgebo said this in post #6 : Well look at the Netherlands it's legal over there and you have very little problems in fact they reckon that the Dutch openness to pot is one of the reason why there are very few addicts on the harder drugs.
I reckon though in a few years most countries will have leaglised it, the UK recently downgarded it to a class C drug and they will only really prosecute you for supplying.
There are so many factors going into this. But in the U.S. different states have different laws governing what's considered possession, possession with the intent to sell, etc. For instance, here in Cali most cops will just make you dump a dime bag or anything less than an ounce. They don't really care so long as you are cool with them and don't have any other dope. But over in Arizona or Nevada if you get popped even for a roach you are in a world of hurt.
and obviously, just like with booze, you wouldn't be allowed to smoke in public, so you wouldn't have to worry about the second-hand high. Just in designated areas (weed lounges I suppose) and private residences.
But you can drink in public, Dekka. You can even smoke in public. So, they would really have to say that if it IS legalized, it's going to have to be VERY specific locations for smoking it. If they did that... and said it can be smoked in a private residence, and maybe smoking lounges (not bars/clubs, etc... unless they were made that way, from the stary) then they might have a better chance of it being accepted.
But, you're right... HOW do you pull someone over and do a "pot test" to see if they've been smoking it, and are currently high? We can't give blood... that brings in health issues, etc...
I just think that it will take a lot to get to the point where they can have it all figured out, and can see it all running smoothly. If they could do all that, then I don't think I would have a problem with it.
But, he is a CURRENT problem for me.
We live in an apartment building. The people who live in the apartment next to ours, smoke pot, daily. And I'm not talking once per day. I'm talking they light up about once an hour. It drifts out their door, and in ours. When it's the summer time, it's very hot in SD. You can't have your windows and doors closed, unless you have an ac unit, and want to run it. We don't have one... but, even if we did, why should I HAVE to close up my house, and pay the gas and electric company HIGH bills because I don't want to get high from my neighbors? So, we get contact highs, daily, and get sick. I'm not kidding you. There are times that I get very sick because of that.
So, how is making the smoking of pot, in a residence, going to keep a neighbor from getting high? In my case, it's not. And I'm not moving... because I can't afford to, nor should I HAVE to. But, they aren't going to stop getting high, and making it VERY hard on us. What do you do in that case? It becomes legal, and we have no ground to stand on, and have to suffer with second hand highs. For someone who LIKES getting stoned, you wouldn't be upset if your neighbor lit up. Most likely, you'd want to jump in, right? But if you don't want to be high, you wouldn't want to jump in, or smell it.
So, there is a HUGE issue for me, and without that being SERIOUSLY taken into consideration, and figured out, I wouldn't vote to ever pass this.
Heck brought up a great point as well. The US is divided up by FIFTY different States. And each have different laws, about everything... including pot. Some might not care about you growing it, and smoking it... but, they will come after you for selling it. While there are other states that will hang your ass to dry if they smell pot on your clothing, or find a roach clip, etc...
So, would we end up with 50 different States, all with different laws, and each choosing if they would make pot legal? Or, would they all have no choice, and it's legal everywhere?
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
There are few places drinking in public is allowed, New orleans, beale street in memphis but 99% of places it's illegal.
I understand how you don't want to be around smoke but there is now way you're getting high from smoke that's going through the cracks in two doors, it sounds more likely you're so paranoid and aggitated by it that you jusy say that to help prove your point. I don;t agree with you, you don't have to agree with me but its sounds like you're being a hypocondriac (sp) about it.
Legalize it then tax and regulate it like all of the other drugs, tobacco, alcohol and alll the prescription drugs, the govenment sure knows how to tax things.
This all boils down to the fact that PARENTS need to do the parenting, not the government.
agreed. and most kids now adays are rude and have no manners.
Problem with parenting is - DHS. You spank your child they are taken from you. its retarded. Time out doesn't work. i was spanked lol - i turned out great. i have 2 friends that had time out used on them. They turned out rude and ungrateful for everything life hands them.
Legalize weed? I think the idea is asinine. Let’s just legalize drugs period why don’t we? After all, people are always going to do it right? In fact, why stop there?
Governor Bush on Kosovo war exit strategy in 99 ” Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is."
President Bush on Iraq war exit strategy from 2003 to 2008. “ “
01-19-2007 08:55 PM
