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| Locals Frown on Bill To Legalize Marijuana |
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Posted by CN Staff on January 21, 2007 at 07:13:00 PT By Gordon Fraser , Staff Writer Source: Eagle-Tribune 
New Hampshire -- 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 cocaine or heroin. 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. NH citizens in support of HB 92, decriminalizing marijuana in the state of NH: http://www.petitiononline.com/NH_HB92/petition.html Source: Eagle-Tribune, The (MA) Related Articles & Web Sites: Common Sense Marijuana Policy Bill Would Make Pot Legal in State Bill Would Allow Marijuana Sales Lawmakers Aiming To Legalize Pot Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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