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Saturday, March 12, 2011
Is New England The New Hotbed For Marijuana Law Reform?
Natural Marijuana Medicine/Wiki Commons Image
Paul Armentano, Deputy Director
NORML
The northeast has historically been a hotbed for marijuana use — with five of the six New England states self-reporting some of the highest percentages of marijuana consumption in the nation. But recently New England has also become a regional leader in marijuana law reform.
Lawmakers in every New England state are now debating marijuana law reform legislation. Here’s a closer look at what’s happening.
Connecticut
: The nutmeg state is the only northeast state besides New Hampshire that has yet to enact some form of marijuana decriminalization or medicalization. But that drought may end this year. Weeks ago, newly elected Democrat Gov. Dan Malloy
publicly affirmed
his support for legislation that seeks to reduce minor marijuana possession to a noncriminal offense. Malloy endorsed reducing adult marijuana possession penalties from a criminal misdemeanor (punishable by one year in jail and a $1,000 fine) to an infraction, punishable by a nominal fine, no jail time, and no criminal record. Gov. Malloy has also spoken out in favor of legalizing the physician-authorized use of medical marijuana. (Similar legislation was passed by the legislature in 2007, but was
vetoed
by then-Gov. Jodi Rell.) You can contact your state elected officials in favor of both of these proposals
here
and
here
. You can also get involved with Connecticut NORML
here
.
Maine
: Maine voters have twice approved ballot initiatives in recent years addressing the medical use and distribution of medical cannabis. And in 2009, Maine lawmakers
increased
the amount of marijuana that may be classified as a civil offense from 1.25 ounces to 2.5 ounces (the second highest threshold in the nation). This year state lawmakers have introduced a pair of bills,
LD 754
and LD 750, to expand the state’s existing marijuana decriminalization law. LD 754 would amend existing law so that the adult possession of over 2.5 ounces but less than 5 ounces is classified as a civil violation.
LD 750
would amend existing law so that the cultivation of up to six marijuana plants by an adult is also classified as a civil violation. Both measures have been referred to the
Joint Committee Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee
. You can contact your lawmakers in support of these measures
here
. NORML is also working with state lawmakers regarding the introduction of separate legislation to legalize adult marijuana possession, production, and distribution. You can learn more about this pending legislation
here
.
Massachusetts
: In 2008, a whopping
65 percent
of voters in endorsed Question 2 decriminalizing the adult possession of an ounce or less of cannabis to a fine-only civil offense. Now a coalition of state lawmakers are backing
House Bill 1371
to legalize and regulate adult marijuana production and sales in Massachusetts. You can watch a 60-minute discussion with the bill’s lead sponsor and supporter
here
. You can contact your state elected officials in support of HB 1371
here
, or by visiting the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition/NORML
here
. You can learn about a separate state legislative effort to regulate the use of medical marijuana here.
New Hampshire
: Lawmakers this week
heard testimony
in favor of
House Bill 442
, which legalizes the physician-supervised use of medical marijuana. (Similar legislation passed both the House and the Senate in 2009, but was
vetoed
by Governor John Lynch.) You can write your lawmakers in favor of HB 442 via NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’
here
, or by contacting
NHCompassion.org
.
Rhode Island
: In coming days, Rhode Island state regulators will become only the third in the nation to begin
licensing
medical marijuana dispensaries. A coalition of lawmakers is also debating the amending the state’s penalties for non-patients.
House Bill 5031
amends state law so that the adult possession of up to one ounce of marijuana is reduced from a criminal
misdemeanor
(punishable by one year in jail and a $500 maximum fine) to a civil offense, punishable by a $150 fine, no jail time, and no criminal record. You can voice your support for HB 5031 by clicking
here
.
Vermont:
Two separate marijuana law reform measures are pending before Vermont lawmakers. Senate Bill 17 proposes expanding the state’s medical marijuana law to permit the establishment of two nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries in the state. You can learn more about this measure
here
.
House Bill 427
amends state law so that the adult possession of up to one ounce of marijuana is reduced from a criminal
misdemeanor
(punishable by six months in jail and a $500 maximum fine) to a civil offense, punishable by a $150 fine, no jail time, and no criminal record. Passage of the measure, which has been
endorsed
by Democrat Governor Peter Shumlin, will allow state law enforcement to reallocate an estimated $700,000 annually in criminal justice resources. You can contact your House member in support of HB 427
here
.
For up-to-date information on marijuana law reform measures pending in other states, please visit NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’
here
.
Support
NORML
to end marijuana prohibition and legalize freedom
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