cannabisnews.com: Schwarzenegger Signs Bill Reducing Offense for MJ
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Schwarzenegger Signs Bill Reducing Offense for MJ
Posted by CN Staff on October 01, 2010 at 12:25:14 PT
By Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento
Source: Los Angeles Times
California -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger opposes Proposition 19, which would legalize the recreational use of marijuana, but he offered a consolation Thursday by signing a bill that would downgrade possession of an ounce or less from a misdemeanor to an infraction.SB 1449 was written by state Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), who said it will keep marijuana-related cases from going to court-clogging jury trials, although the penalty would remain a fine of up to $100 but no jail time.
"Notwithstanding my opposition to Proposition 19, however, I am signing this measure because possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is an infraction in everything but name," Schwarzenegger wrote in a signing message."In this time of drastic budget cuts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, and the courts cannot afford to expend limited resources prosecuting a crime that carries the same punishment as a traffic ticket."The governor’s action was denounced by Randy Thomasson, president of saveCalifornia.com."This virtual legalization of marijuana definitely sends the wrong message to teenagers and young adults," Thomasson said. “It invites youth to become addicted to mind-altering pot because there's not much hassle and no public stigma and no rehab if they’re caught."Not surprisingly, the governor was praised by Dale Gieringer, director of California NORML, which supports legalization."Gov. Schwarzenegger deserves credit for sparing the state's taxpayers the cost of prosecuting minor pot offenders," Gieringer said. "Californians increasingly recognize that the war on marijuana is a waste of law enforcement resources."The new law takes effect Jan 1, 2011.News Article From The LA Times Blog.Newshawk: KonagoldSource: Los Angeles Times (CA)Author: Patrick McGreevy in SacramentoPublished: October 1, 2010Copyright: 2010 Los Angeles TimesContact: letters latimes.comWebsite: http://www.latimes.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/MgfcQkYmCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on October 02, 2010 at 05:47:17 PT
Updated LA Times Article
Schwarzenegger Approves Bill Downgrading Marijuana Possession of Ounce or Less To An InfractionOctober 2, 2010URL: http://drugsense.org/url/rtDg0Bge
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Comment #22 posted by Hope on October 01, 2010 at 21:14:47 PT
Had Enough
Hope you and yours are doing well! It is good, as always, to hear from you.
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Comment #21 posted by The GCW on October 01, 2010 at 21:02:01 PT
kaptinemo,
kaptinemo points out a good observation. The prohib's lose the rehab money. They also lose the statistics that come with it. ???How many times have We read; more people are seeking treatment for cannabis than any other drug???Guv has used those rehab stats to perpetuate feeding the vampire.
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on October 01, 2010 at 20:55:36 PT
Had Enough
I'm glad you feel that way.
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Comment #19 posted by Had Enough on October 01, 2010 at 19:32:16 PT
Re:#15
You said “It's great to see you”I say...It’s good/great to be here...Thank You.
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Comment #18 posted by Had Enough on October 01, 2010 at 19:18:38 PT
Repeating History
Repeating HistoryRupert Murdoch is nothing more than a modern day Randolph Hearst, still holding hands and playing kissy face-huggy poo with the Dupont’s, Oil Barons, and the Wall Street Banksters/Terrorists.And these are the Masters that Ah-nuld serves...It appears he follows in his Fathers footsteps..
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on October 01, 2010 at 19:12:19 PT
Had Enough
I don't consider Fox a News Channel at all. MSNBC is all I watch when I watch News. They show both sides. Morning Joe is an example of the kind of TV I like. I don't like all of the guests they have on but most of them are good and fair no matter how they lean politically. Joe is a Republican but he is reasonable most times.
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Comment #16 posted by Had Enough on October 01, 2010 at 18:59:41 PT
Yes FoM...It is sad
The saddest part is the realities of it all...And there are many more that have fallen victim...and many more to come.Did you notice how the reporter refereed to her as a victim??? I’ll bet the cops caught that too...But...We won’t see this on Fox News...Oh Noooo!!!... Propagandist Admiral Rupert Murdoch will see to that...
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on October 01, 2010 at 18:32:49 PT
Had Enough
It's great to see you and that's a sad article.
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Comment #14 posted by kaptinemo on October 01, 2010 at 18:27:49 PT:
Oh, and Mr. Thomasson?
Those kids you keep sending messages to regularly send you one when you're not looking, as they giggle behind your back and raise the single-digit salute at your pretentiousness in thinking your target audience are brainless, programmable clods.They're anything but, and generally wiser than their purblind 'betters'. They have to be to dodge dangerous dimwits intent on proselytizing them.
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Comment #13 posted by kaptinemo on October 01, 2010 at 18:22:12 PT:
What they're really worried about.
And it's not your kids, but their wallets:"The governor’s action was denounced by Randy Thomasson, president of saveCalifornia.com."This virtual legalization of marijuana definitely sends the wrong message to teenagers and young adults," Thomasson said. “It invites youth to become addicted to mind-altering pot because there's not much hassle and no public stigma and no rehab if they’re caught." (Emphasis mine - k.)There it is. The money quote; literally, the money quote. They see all that lovely money they've gotten for 'rehabbing' the very people who need it the least about to vanish. All those court-remanded, taxpayer-funded and wholly unnecessary 'treatments' will now go to those vastly fewer people who actually need it...and who are much harder to 'treat'.
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Comment #12 posted by b4daylight on October 01, 2010 at 16:35:48 PT
Yeah for freedom
"This virtual legalization of marijuana definitely sends the wrong message to teenagers and young adults," Yes because Cannabis is safer than alcohol. Your lies hold no creditability to these smart kids.
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Comment #11 posted by Had Enough on October 01, 2010 at 15:47:52 PT
State patrol officer shoots pregnant woman
State patrol officer shoots pregnant woman during Spokane drug raid A pregnant, unarmed woman was shot during a drug raid in Spokane on Friday morning and she remained hospitalized late last night as investigators pieced together what happened in the county's third officer-involved shooting in four weeks.and..."During the entry, a female suspect inside the apartment became non-compliant with officers' instructions," Reagan wrote in a news release. "When she attempted to flee out a bedroom window, officers attempted to restrain her. During efforts to prevent her escape, a shot was fired and the woman suffered a minor wound to her upper torso. She fell out the window and received first aid from containment officers stationed at the back of the apartments."He offered no further details about why the detective used deadly force, which law enforcement officers are trained to use if they believe their lives are in danger.Reagan did not identify the woman but said she was a drug suspect and that a multiagency task force from the Moscow-Pullman area "had identified residents at the Spokane apartment complex as suppliers of crack cocaine sold in southeast Washington."A woman who identified herself as the victim's mother, but who wouldn't give her name, said there were no drugs or weapons in the home.But in his later news release, Reagan said officers found crack cocaine, marijuana and controlled prescription drugs.and...Jason Thompson said he saw the encounter as he was heading to his car, and believes the woman was unarmed. He said he didn't know her name but that she appeared to be in her early 20s.Neighbor Carmen "Boots" Nelson said she and her stepson were inside her apartment when she heard a gunshot.Nelson said neither she nor her stepson heard officers yell commands before the shooting."I heard one gunshot, a woman screamed and a man hollered out afterward," Nelson said. "I'm upset a pregnant woman was shot. I believe she didn't deserve it."and...The incident is the second officer-involved shooting since a sheriff's deputy fatally shot pastor Wayne Scott Creach on Aug. 25.Spokane County sheriff's Deputy Brian Hirzel shot Creach, 74, in the chest after he said he struck the pastor with a baton. Hirzel said Creach refused commands and appeared to be grabbing his gun from his waistband.Then on Sept. 16, sheriff's deputies shot an armed-assault suspect, Sean P. Houlihan, then told investigators Houlihan had opened fire on them, which the WSP says a witness confirmed.But in interviews with WSP detectives Tuesday, the deputies said Houlihan, 37, pointed a gun at Westlake but "indicated the possibility that Houlihan had not fired his weapon at officers," according to court documents.Read the whole thing here...http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/09/25/1356027/state-patrol-officer-shoots-pregnant.html
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on October 01, 2010 at 15:40:50 PT
Canis420
I found this about Ohio's Laws.Since legislation in 1975, Ohio marijuana laws are such that possession under 100g (3.5 ounces) has been decriminalized for this small amount for adult personal use. Considered a minor misdemeanor, this charge carries a penalty of no more than $100 fine and is comparable to a minor traffic citation. In Ohio, a minor misdemeanor does not create a criminal record. The sale, cultivation, possession of paraphernalia, and possession of amounts larger than 100g all remain as criminal penalties and carry a fine and possible prison sentence.http://www.mahalo.com/ohio-marijuana-laws
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Comment #9 posted by Canis420 on October 01, 2010 at 14:44:13 PT:
FOM
In Ohio is it a 1st degree misdemeanor or an infraction? I have often wondered about this as I was caught twice while I lived there...1979 and 1986 me thinks. I have always put on job applications that I have not been arrested for a 1st degree misdemeanor.
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Comment #8 posted by Hope on October 01, 2010 at 14:42:00 PT
Comment 4
Yes!You're so right.
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on October 01, 2010 at 14:40:14 PT
It's still prohibition. Full on.
There is no protection for growers and distributors. It's still the busy, busy, heinously lucrative black market. It's still handcuff city, and turf and territory, and the swat teams and narcs are still on the loose.Vote Yes on 19... please. I think it's important that you do if you can. Be sure you're registered. You have your paperwork. You know where to go and go. Even if you have to walk ten miles. Do it! Hopefully you'll have to stand in line a few minutes because the turnout will be so good...for Yes.Do it and do it well! Don't let anyone ever be able to say you were too lazy and wouldn't get up off the couch to go do it. Please.And be bold. Face your fears if you have any... and try to downsize them.I hope you will.
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on October 01, 2010 at 14:12:10 PT
About Decriminalization
They did this in my state back in the 70s and because it is now not a big offense the state has become less interested in marijuana as a crime in general.
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Comment #5 posted by dongenero on October 01, 2010 at 14:02:18 PT
Arnold
Arnold just wants to get $100 from each of the next 500,000 American citizens they accost, without having to pay for judicial costs or give the citizen their day in court.It's a simple business decision, reduce your expenses and overhead while maintaining revenue. Gee, thanks Arnold.Some reduction of harm to citizens is just a byproduct, not really the intent. This idea probably grew out of the official's assessment of what prop 19 would do for tax revenue and budgets. Someone had an idea for a quick way to save money while still making money.....on the backs of citizens.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on October 01, 2010 at 13:37:22 PT
My Opinion
When this hits the news channels it will once again put Cannabis in the forefront. We are Activists. We look at details but the general public doesn't. This should really encourage people who weren't sure how to vote for Prop 19 to vote for it.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on October 01, 2010 at 13:35:04 PT
Related Article From CBSNews.com
Schwarzenegger Reduces Charge for Marijuana PossessionOctober 1, 2010URL: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20018327-503544.html
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Comment #2 posted by The GCW on October 01, 2010 at 13:01:23 PT
I have mixed feelings about this.
Citizens have worked hard to reduce punishment for cannabis use. Otherwise the fines would be much larger and He would not lower the punishment because they would need the additional income. If Arnold had enough money to invest in the prison system to cage cannabis users and turn a profit, I think He would do it.HE SAID IT!"In this time of drastic budget cuts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, and the courts cannot afford to expend limited resources prosecuting a crime that carries the same punishment as a traffic ticket."It used to cost a citizen thousand$ if they were caught and then Arnold could afford the hunt.-0-19 NOWPolice: lay down you pencils.
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Comment #1 posted by konagold on October 01, 2010 at 12:59:44 PT
GOOD OR NOT??
isn't this a wonderful move for the criminal justice system?? 100 buck an ounce tax ..er.. fine with out all the pesky lawyering and jury stuff this still does not tax or regulate sales thus the black-market is perpetuatedis it perhaps a cynical move to take the wind out of prop 19 sails given the recent positive lead in the polls??Government moto: be berry berry afwaid of pop 19
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