420 Warrior
Well-Known Member
The Senate today will take up a surprise marijuana decriminalization bill that bubbled up from out of nowhere, though a deal struck this week will effectively defer any substantive decisions on the issue until next year at the earliest.
Sen. Joe Benning last week delivered some unexpected drama to an otherwise mundane floor debate when he introduced an amendment that would have decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis.
Benning, a Caledonia County Republican, said the state is wasting money by prosecuting small-time marijuana offenders who pose no threat to public safety.
His amendment immediately ran into opposition from lawmakers – marijuana reform advocates among them – who said the body hadn't taken any testimony this year on the proposal.
Benning has since agreed to modify his proposal, which now directs a summer committee to study the issue.
House Speaker Shap Smith, a longtime opponent of decriminalization, said Tuesday he'll support the study. Benning and other lawmakers said the legislation will lay the groundwork for another run at decriminalization in 2013.
News Hawk - 420 Warrior 420 MAGAZINE
Location: Vermont
Source: Times Argus
Author: Peter Hirschfeld
Contact: www.timesargus.com
Copyright: © 2011 Times Argus
Website: www.timesargus.com
Sen. Joe Benning last week delivered some unexpected drama to an otherwise mundane floor debate when he introduced an amendment that would have decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis.
Benning, a Caledonia County Republican, said the state is wasting money by prosecuting small-time marijuana offenders who pose no threat to public safety.
His amendment immediately ran into opposition from lawmakers – marijuana reform advocates among them – who said the body hadn't taken any testimony this year on the proposal.
Benning has since agreed to modify his proposal, which now directs a summer committee to study the issue.
House Speaker Shap Smith, a longtime opponent of decriminalization, said Tuesday he'll support the study. Benning and other lawmakers said the legislation will lay the groundwork for another run at decriminalization in 2013.
News Hawk - 420 Warrior 420 MAGAZINE
Location: Vermont
Source: Times Argus
Author: Peter Hirschfeld
Contact: www.timesargus.com
Copyright: © 2011 Times Argus
Website: www.timesargus.com
