Cannabis Study House - NORML Weekly News in Audio 2008.7.10

Weekly News in Audio

July 10, 2008

"Radical" Russ Belville
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Massachusetts: Pot Decrim Initiative Qualifies For November Ballot Measure Would Replace Criminal Penalties With A $100 Fine

Congress Moves Forward On Cannabis 'Candy' Crackdown<

Rhode Island: Governor Vetoes Bill To Study Feasibility Of State-Licensed 'Compassion Centers'

Hawaii: Governor Vetoes Medical Marijuana Task Force Measure

Boston, MA:
Massachusetts: Pot Decrim Initiative Qualifies For November Ballot Measure Would Replace Criminal Penalties With A $100 Fine

State election officials have approved a measure for the November 2008 ballot that seeks to decriminalize the possession and use of small amounts of cannabis by persons age 18 or older. Sponsored by the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy, the measure would replace criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana with a civil fine of no more than $100. Defendants who pay the fine would not have to appear in court, nor would they be subjected to a criminal record Under current Massachusett law, citizens arrested for minor marijuana offenses face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500.

According to a spring 2008 poll, state voters favor the proposal by a margin of 2 to 1.

Since 2002, more than 480,000 voters in 127 Massachusetts communities have endorsed non-binding resolutions to liberalize local pot policies.

If voters approve the measure this fall, Massachusetts would be the first state to enact the decriminalization of marijuana since Nevada's legislature did so in 2001.

Currently, twelve states have enacted versions of marijuana decriminalization - replacing criminal sanctions with fine-only penalties for minor pot violators.

Michigan voters will also decide on a separate statewide initiative this November that seeks to legalize the medical use of cannabis for qualified patients. If enacted, Michigan will become the thirteenth state since 1996 to authorize the legal use of medical cannabis, and the ninth state to do so by voter initiative.

For more information, please contact NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre at (202) 483-5500,
or visit the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy online at: http://sensiblemarijuanapolicy.org/

Washington, DC:
Congress Moves Forward On Cannabis 'Candy' Crackdown<

The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved legislation introduced by Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) that seeks to enact mandatory minimum penalties for persons found to have manufactured or dispensed edible cannabis products that have been "marketed to appear similar to a candy product."

Cannabis-based food products were the targets of a federal DEA investigation in California last year. The edibles, which are preferred by some patients who wish to avoid smoking, had been popular items among some of California's medical cannabis dispensaries prior to the DEA's crackdown.

As passed by the Judiciary, Feinstein's proposal - Senate Bill 1211 - would double penalties for anyone who "manufactures, creates, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute a controlled substance that is flavored, colored, packaged, or otherwise altered in a way that is designed to make that controlled substance more appealing" to children.

The Senate is not expected to take any imminent action on the bill.

For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Legal Counsel, at (202) 483-5500

Providence, RI:
Rhode Island: Governor Vetoes Bill To Study Feasibility Of State-Licensed 'Compassion Centers'

Republican Governor Donald Carcieri vetoed legislation last week that sought to establish a legislative task force to study ways to provide medical cannabis to state-qualified patients. The resolution, H7888, was approved overwhelmingly by the legislature (29-0 in the Senate, 54-2 in the House) after lawmakers failed to approve a previous bill that sought to regulate the distribution of medical marijuana by non-profit state-licensed facilities. (That proposal, S2693, gained approval from the Senate but failed to move forward in the House.) Proponents of the measure expect the legislature will override the Governor's veto.

"While Governor Carcieri is within his rights to veto this legislation based on his opposition to the medical marijuana program, it is shortsighted to quash the mere study of an issue that garners support from nearly 70 percent of Rhode Islanders," said Jesse Stout, executive director of Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC).

In 2005 and 2007, Gov. Carcieri vetoed legislation to legalize the medical use of cannabis by state-authorized patients. Both vetoes were overridden by the legislature.

For more information, please visit The Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition.

Honolulu, HI:
Hawaii: Governor Vetoes Medical Marijuana Task Force Measure

Democrat Governor Linda Lingle (D) vetoed legislation this week that sought to establish a study committee to explore options for providing legal cannabis for state-qualified medical cannabis patients.

As approved by the legislature, House Bill 2675 called on the committee to make recommendations regarding "the feasibility of developing safe growing facilities … for qualified patients with written certification to grow medical marijuana for their medical use." The task force was also mandated to review statewide guidelines authorizing the amount of medical cannabis patients may legally use and possess under state law.

In her veto message, Gov. Lingle said she opposed the bill because "the use of marijuana, even medical marijuana, is illegal under federal law," and because she believes that there are alternative prescription drugs available besides cannabis. "This bill is objectionable because it is an exercise aimed at finding ways to circumvent federal law," she concluded.

The legislature did not elect to override the Governor's veto. Currently, an estimated 3,000 Hawaiians are registered to use medical cannabis under Hawaii law.

For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Legal Counsel, at (202) 483-5500.

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