cannabisnews.com: NH Lawmaker Brings Marijuana Bill





NH Lawmaker Brings Marijuana Bill
Posted by CN Staff on February 03, 2009 at 16:36:24 PT
By Travis Andersen, Associated Press Writer 
Source: Associated Press
Concord, N.H. -- A New Hampshire lawmaker is sponsoring a bill to decriminalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana, one year after a similar measure died in the state Senate.Democratic Rep. Steven Lindsey's bill would impose a maximum fine of $100 on those caught with an ounce of marijuana or less. Minors would have to complete a drug treatment program and community service, or face an additional fine of $1,000. Lindsey called the state's possession law draconian at a hearing Tuesday.
Possession of an ounce or less is a misdemeanor under current law, with a possible prison sentence of up to one year. Karin Eckel, an assistant attorney general in New Hampshire, said first-time offenders rarely receive jail time. She also said the bill could provide loopholes for drug dealers, many of whom sell marijuana in small amounts.Other law enforcement officials echoed those concerns. State Police Maj. Russel Conte told lawmakers that marijuana use and trafficking has a devastating impact on rural communities in New Hampshire."This is not just a metropolitan problem," Conte said. "This is a problem that reaches everywhere."Conte said he's seen countless examples of young people unable to hold jobs or care for their children because of frequent marijuana use.Claire Ebel, head of the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union, countered that the same could be said of legal drugs such as alcohol, which kill hundreds of thousands each year."There has never been a single case of marijuana being declared the cause of death of a person in the U.S.," Ebel said.Voters in Massachusetts approved a ballot question decriminalizing possession of up to an ounce of marijuana in November. The law took effect in January. Terrell Harris, spokesman for the Massachusetts public safety department, said the agency has no data on the number of citations given for possession since then.A bill to decriminalize one quarter of an ounce passed in the New Hampshire House last year. It died in the Senate after Gov. John Lynch threatened a veto. Source: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Travis Andersen, Associated Press WriterPublished:  Tuesday, February 3, 2009 Copyright: 2009 The Associated PressCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by Hope on February 03, 2009 at 19:35:39 PT
"Rarely" is still way too much.
"Karin Eckel, an assistant attorney general in New Hampshire, said first-time offenders rarely receive jail time."It's a plant. A plant, a thing of the earth that should be each man's or woman's to choose to make use of, or not. I shouldn't get to decide for other adults. Neither should you. It's a plant that doesn't have a LD for human or animal. No part of the plant is poisonous. Not the root. Not the leaf. Not the flower. Not the bark. Not the fiber. Not the seed. It's got vitamins and healthy fats and amino acids in the seed. Usually, the effect of it's usage is that it seems to help the consumer feel better... call it higher ... even good, and maybe even be better. Not just feel better, but BE better... like the Alzheimer's effect... or the cancer killing effect, or the calming Tourette's effect or the anti-spasmodic effect on muscles, the anti-nausea effect, or the pressure relief on the eyeballs effect that helps glaucoma patients. It's a plant. You're punishing, generally abusing, frightening, threatening, and torturing and killing people, for disobeying an unjust law and using a non poisonous plant. I can imagine someday that it will be discovered that small supplements of the herb should be available to people. The supplement dose might be active at such a small amount that one wouldn't even notice any effects. Which reminds me. They always want to get the "High" out of the cannabanoid medicines. Duh and double Duh.Probably, most people know what it is to find oneself to be the sad possessor of really sorry weed. No discernible high, buzz, or lift of any noticeable kind. Just a feeling of being very bummed out. Aaarggh ... But...Duh...and double duh? Cannabis that doesn't get you high? Duh... again. It's cannabis though, and there might be benefit of it. If they would test the stuff. If it was legal. You could have euphoric and non-euphoric weed. Make both kinds legal.
 
The non buzz kind is something most people who'd learned to enjoy cannabis would usually want to avoid... but it might be just right for some people and still be beneficial. It's easy, I would think, to grow cannabis that doesn't get you high. I repeat to the puzzled geniuses who ponder this point!!! It exists!!!! Already!!!!! Has for eons!!!! You don't have to invent or create it. Just find it. Grow it. Cook it. Grind it. Weigh it. Put it in a capsule. It won't get you high. Voila! I promise.But back to the point. "Rarely". "Rarely" is not good enough. No arrests. No cuffs. No locking people in boxes or cages because of it... at all. No disparagement. No ridicule. No belittlement. No sneering. No hitting. No pushing or roughing up. No hitting on. One human to another. No killing. No shooting. No drawn guns. No handcuffs. No "ride" anywhere. No trying to intimidate or terrify. No raids. No raids, especially. No spying. No trying to "Turn" people. No threats. No breaking down doors. No searching. No bullying.Just give them the ticket if you have to have something to feed your attitude.Then... a polite smile. A tip of the hat and a "Good evening." And walk away.Be polite and respectful. It starts with you.(Yes I've indulged in enough cussing from time to time in my life, to have been amazed at myself in not cussing or near cussing while writing this comment. It was rather like running and dodging landmines to get to the end of it without cussing, some. Goes to show, as far as I'm concerned, that we can learn to be polite even when we don't want to be. Self control is a good thing. It takes a certain strength, perhaps of character, to find it in ourselves, and even more strength to maintain it. But it's still a very good thing and the "Good Guys" should certainly be practicing it... I would think.) 
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Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on February 03, 2009 at 16:44:21 PT
Bring it baby!
Nice headline! He's gonna bring it, take it up strong like the Chief! Like Santonio Holmes
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