Ksc Professor Introduces Bill In N.h. House Decriminalizing Marijuana Use

[420]

At 10:15 p.m. on Friday, Chuck Weed was told to be ready by the phone for his interview on Fox News' "Hannity and Colmes" show.

The interview was only a part of the national media interest in the bill Weed, professor of political science and New Hampshire state legislator, introduced to decriminalize marijuana in New Hampshire known as HB 92.

The week before Weed was interviewed on "Hannity and Colmes," MSNBC's "Countdown" with Keith Olbermann named him the third worst person in the world for introducing the bill.

"This is not about the merits of the proposed legislation, there are pros and cons," said Olbermann on the program. "It's about the wisdom of this particular state legislator authoring the legalized pot bill rather than having somebody else introduce it."

Weed said he believes the first he heard of the broadcast was a student e-mailing him the clip available on YouTube and congratulating him.

"I guess it's quite an honor to be the bronze medalist," Weed said.

"I see Olbermann when he does his commentaries and I think he's fantastic. So I was trying to figure out in what context it comes up," added Weed. "I eventually saw it and I think it's satire."

Weed said he has no problem with satire and he believes the best news comes from Comedy Central.

"Although, I'm torn by the triviality and the comedy that associates itself with this bill just because it happens to be sponsored by me," said Weed. "I think it's a pretty serious bill."

The media coverage gave more attention to the name of the legislator rather than the content of the legislation. Olbermann, in the clip, smirked while introducing one of the bill's sponsors before throwing his hands up in disbelief.

"My problem is, with all of these people, that they wanted to laugh about the name Weed," said Weed. "I don't care, they're not my constituents."

The bill pending before his constituents and colleagues in the New Hampshire House of Representatives would decriminalize marijuana and remove penalties for possession, according to the text of the bill.

The bill has been turned over to a subcommittee for further review, according to Bill Knowles, chairman of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee and state representative from Dover.

Many of the arguments raised during the interviews are those raised by the members of the House, according to Weed.

In the Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee hearings, the arguments were made for lowering worker productivity, causing accidents, causing deaths and marijuana being a gateway drug.

However, Weed said he believes all those accusations can be challenged.

"Not one marijuana death in the last 10 years as far as I can tell," added Weed. "I'm not sure you can say those things about alcohol or cigarettes."

Weed cites the Netherlands for showing most of these claims to be false.

In terms of marijuana as a gateway drug, Weed said in the Netherlands marijuana can be bought and smoked in coffee shops.

According to Weed, there is much lower hard drug use in the country, but about the same use of marijuana as the United States.

"Why? Is that maybe that's because professional criminals sell marijuana and they also sell other drugs?" asked Weed. "So, that if you want to buy something from the same crooks, you can easily in this country."

According to Weed, the reports that come out of the committee are what the representatives on the floor will go with when voting. Weed said the bill is in need of changes before being passed.

"I'm absolutely certain it needs to be substantially altered," said Weed. "If they [N.H. legislators] wish to make it better by saying 'Okay, if you're in possession of four ounces or less than there's no criminal punishment.'"

Knowles said the bill, as it currently reads, is just a step too far in decriminalizing marijuana entirely.

"Currently, we're not going to amend it," added Knowles.

Weed said amendments such as decriminalizing possession in small amounts rather than decriminalizing entirely for both possession and transportation would be helpful.

"I'm not sure that's what they want to do," said Weed. "They just don't want it to be decriminalized at all. So they'll use any way to avoid it and one way is to not amend it at all."

Although Weed said he doesn't see the bill passing, he said legislation for the decriminalization of marijuana on the state level is the way to change federal drug policy.

"I feel it doesn't have much of a chance," said Knowles. "But it depends what the subcommittee comes back with."

"I just want people to be able to do it [smoke marijuana] without fear and without conviction because I think convictions destroy people's lives," said Weed.

Source: Equinox, The (NH Edu)
Copyright: 2007 The Equinox
Contact: equinox@keene.edu
Website: http://www.keeneequinox.com/