cannabisnews.com: House Votes Against Fully Legalizing Pot
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House Votes Against Fully Legalizing Pot
Posted by CN Staff on June 15, 2011 at 07:20:23 PT
By Kevin Miller, BDN Staff
Source: Bangor Daily News
Augusta, Maine -- House lawmakers voted Tuesday to reject a bill that would have moved Maine a step closer to legalizing marijuana for recreational use.As originally introduced, LD 1453 would have legalized the possession and cultivation of marijuana for personal use and would have affixed a 7 percent tax on sale of the drug.
The bill failed to win the endorsement of a legislative committee and on Tuesday House members followed suit by voting 107-39 to kill the bill after moderate debate.“I don’t believe the time has come yet for this,” said Rep. Michael Celli, R-Brewer. “We have to let the federal government make the first move.”Supporters of the measure noted, however, that the bill had been changed in committee to propose that voters decide through a statewide referendum whether to legalize marijuana. And even if Maine voters agreed to legalize pot, the change would not take effect until the federal government removed marijuana from its list of scheduled drugs.Rep. Diane Russell, a Portland Democrat who sponsored the bill, said Maine spent an estimated $26 million on investigations, arrests, prosecutions and incarcerations related to possession of marijuana in 2009. Russell also disputed statements that marijuana is a “gateway drug” that can lead users to abuse more serious drugs.“It is time to stop turning law-abiding people into criminals,” Russell said.Legalizing marijuana would reduce the prevalence of gangs and organized crime in Maine while generating an estimated $8.5 million in new tax revenue, she said.Rep. Aaron Libby, R-Waterboro, had more libertarian reasons for supporting the measure, suggesting the federal government is trampling on states’ rights and the constitution.“We should follow the constitution and stop trying to police moralities,” Libby said.Rep. Gary Plummer, R-Windham, said he may live to see pot legalized.“I do, however, believe this bill proposes a situation whose time has not come,” Plummer said.The bill now heads to the Senate, where it likely faces a similar fate.Source: Bangor Daily News (ME)Author: Kevin Miller, BDN StaffPublished: June 15, 2011Copyright: 2011 Bangor Daily News Inc.Website: http://www.bangornews.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/rKzTcsqAContact: http://drugsense.org/url/MWLhV21WCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #8 posted by The GCW on June 17, 2011 at 06:10:25 PT
PLANT
Imagine how much better it effects / INFLUENCES the reader if it says,affixed a 7 percent tax on sale of the PLANT.
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Comment #7 posted by The GCW on June 17, 2011 at 06:08:18 PT
DRUG!?!?!
"affixed a 7 percent tax on sale of the drug."DRUG.DRUG????Friends, I don't see a drug. I see a God-given plant.Plant, as in God indicates He created all the seed bearing plants and said they're all good on literally the very 1st page of the Bible.Using the derogatory term "drug" helps prohibitionist continue the farce.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on June 16, 2011 at 20:58:38 PT
Sam Adams Comment 2
:0)You sound fresh for the fight, man!Gotta love it.Whoo Hoo!
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Comment #5 posted by George Servantes on June 16, 2011 at 14:22:43 PT
Yes this is a great development in state of Maine
I am from Maine and this also affects me. I was watching this bill for last 2 months eagerly awaiting them to get rid of registration requirement.
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Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on June 16, 2011 at 12:56:33 PT
privacy
George thanks for that news, that is a huge milestone, they are definitely the first state to have a registry and then repeal it. Fantastic news, sure to dramatically boost participation in the program and use of dispensaries.
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Comment #3 posted by George Servantes on June 16, 2011 at 10:18:19 PT
Looks like thay passed medical cannabis changes
http://www.mainelegislature.org/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?LD=1296
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Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on June 16, 2011 at 08:26:18 PT
39 ain't bad!
39 votes for legalization! That's an excellent starting point.On controversial issues things can change fast, those 39 votes could be 50 or 60 within a couple years.
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Comment #1 posted by CaptainAjnag on June 15, 2011 at 13:21:26 PT:
Bummer
“I don’t believe the time has come yet for this,” said Rep. Michael Celli, R-Brewer. “We have to let the federal government make the first move.”The only problem is that the federal gov't will never make the "first move". We're gonna need a state like California or Colorado to pave the way for us. Just as New York did with alcohol prohibition.
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