Locals Frown On Bill To Legalize Marijuana

[420]

A proposal to decriminalize marijuana in New Hampshire is getting an icy reception from local lawmakers and officials.

"I wouldn't support it," said Sen. Mike Downing, R-Salem.

"Will it make my job easier? No," said Salem prosecutor Robert Prince.

"Marijuana is a stepping-stone drug, so obviously, from a law-enforcement perspective, we would be against legalizing," said Kingston police Chief Donald Briggs.

And the list goes on.

"I'm not sure that's the kind of atmosphere we'd want to encourage in this state," said Rep. John Gleason, R-Derry.

"If it's the same bill that I've seen before, I voted against it," said Rep. Anthony DiFrucia, R-Salem.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Charles Weed, D-Keene, told colleagues in the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee last week that taking marijuana out of drug-enforcement statutes would give police more resources to tackle violent crime.

He also said that existing laws governing marijuana use are too harsh and lead users to being jailed with people who use or sell much more dangerous drugs, like ******* or ******.

Rep. Bob Fesh, R-Derry, sits on the committee hearing the bill. He doesn't think the proposal will get very far.

"I voted against this last term," Fesh said, adding that he doesn't expect the bill will even make it out of committee.

But Weed, a professor of political science at Keene State College, thinks his proposal could fare better this year than similar proposals have in the past.

First, there's a Democratic majority this year. But, perhaps more importantly, some members of the law-enforcement community are speaking out in favor of it.

Police Officer Bradley Jardis, speaking on behalf of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a national group that supports the legalization of marijuana, testified that prosecuting marijuana offenders, who are typically nonviolent, does more harm than good.

"In my experience, I've never gone to a fight call or domestic violence call where it's only because of marijuana," he said.

But Weed - who is co-sponsoring his proposal with Republican Reps. Steve Vaillancourt of Manchester and Paul Ingbretson of Pike - said he realizes there are real obstacles to overcome in convincing people that marijuana shouldn't be illegal.

"I think it's very hard to change people's minds, and I think it's probably been 60 or 70 years that ( messages about the dangers of marijuana ) were drilled into them," he said.

Weed and Ingbretson also are sponsoring bills to legalize medical marijuana use and allow farmers to grow industrial hemp, which is not a drug.

Source: Eagle-Tribune, The (MA)
Copyright: 2007 The Eagle-Tribune
Contact: letters@eagletribune.com
Website: http://www.eagletribune.com/

[HappyKitty]

"I'm not sure that's the kind of atmosphere we'd want to encourage in this state," said Rep. John Gleason, R-Derry.

What kind of atmosphere do they think it will bring? People aren't gonna take up smoking, they already are. And they go to jail for ridiculous amount, spending time in jail with violent criminals, etc.

"Will it make my job easier? No," said Salem prosecutor Robert Prince.

Really? But it might make you sleep better at night.

Police Officer Bradley Jardis, speaking on behalf of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a national group that supports the legalization of marijuana, testified that prosecuting marijuana offenders, who are typically nonviolent, does more harm than good.

"In my experience, I've never gone to a fight call or domestic violence call where it's only because of marijuana," he said.

I don't understand why the state is so opposed to the idea, when the police are all for it? This is gonna free up a lot of police manpower to focus on something other than a marijuana user.

Rep. Charles Weed

Pardon my immaturity, but I love this guy's name

[bigfanofpj]

Originally Posted by HappyKitty

Rep. Charles Weed

Pardon my immaturity, but I love this guy's name

hehehe...agreed

[Valley_Co-op]

lets hope the best for these people

[SoCalHaze]

Can't stress enough the need to read up on canidates and Vote these narrow minded puppets out of office.