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 Ythan
٩(●̮̮̃•̃)۶
Registered: 08/08/97
Posts: 14,933
Loc: NY/MA/VT Border 
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 R.I. Senate to consider loosening marijuana laws 
#11721504 - 12/26/09 12:59 PM (2 years, 4 months ago) |
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R.I. Senate to consider loosening marijuana laws
By RAY HENRY Associated Press Writer
Publication: The Day
Published 12/26/2009 12:00 AM, Updated 12/26/2009 12:59 AM
Providence- A Senate commission will soon explore whether Rhode Island should decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana and tax the drug, a path recently taken by neighboring Massachusetts.
Commission members are exploring several questions that suggest an underlying skepticism with criminalizing marijuana, including whether existing prohibitions have decreased drug use, caused corruption among law enforcement officials and resulted in violence. The panel will present its findings early next year.
Commission member Nick Horton, a policy researcher for OpenDoors, which works to reintegrate criminal offenders into society, said presidential candidates have admitted using marijuana but people in his Providence neighborhood still get jailed for it.
"That double standard does more harm than good to our justice system," he said.
Sen. Joshua Miller, D-Cranston, created the commission and serves as its chairman. He has not yet backed any specific changes to Rhode Island's drug laws, but members will hear testimony about recent changes in Massachusetts.
In November 2008, Bay State voters decided to make possession of an ounce or less of marijuana punishable by a $100 fine and confiscation of the drug rather than a crime carrying a maximum six-month prison sentence and $500 fine.
The measure was approved over the objections of police and prosecutors in Massachusetts, who feared it would encourage use of what they consider more harmful drugs and interfere with their ability to prosecute traffickers who sometimes become suspects because of marijuana possession.
Some cities and towns in Massachusetts have since created additional penalties to discourage marijuana use.
Rhode Island lawmakers already have taken steps to legalize some marijuana use. In 2006, they started allowing patients who registered with the state to possess small amounts of marijuana if it's used to relieve pain or chronic ailments.
In June, the General Assembly expanded the medical marijuana program by authorizing up to three nonprofit stores to legally sell marijuana. State health officials still are determining how those stores will be licensed and regulated.
Republican Gov. Don Carcieri and the State Police have opposed expansions of the medical marijuana system.
Miller's panel is required to examine the cost of prosecuting and jailing offenders, as well as considering the possibility of legalizing marijuana sales and imposing a tax of $35 per ounce or more.
Financial arguments could be tempting since Rhode Island faces a $220 million budget deficit for the fiscal year ending in June, about 7 percent of what state authorities originally expected to collect. With unemployment hovering around 13 percent, the deficit is expected to grow larger in the coming year.
"I think one of the things in order to be taken seriously is that there has to be a fiscal advantage, beyond other issues that are important," Miller said.
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 SbstratAlchemist
Enthusiast
Registered: 01/29/09
Posts: 974
Last seen: 8 minutes, 44 seconds
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 Re: R.I. Senate to consider loosening marijuana laws [Re: Ythan]
#11722846 - 12/26/09 06:30 PM (2 years, 4 months ago) |
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The good news keeps coming! 2009 has been a year of great progress and 2010 could well be even better.
Time to fire off another donation toward ending prohibition! Which organization do you think is best? NORML, MAPS, other?
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 NobodyImportant
Stranger
Registered: 05/04/08
Posts: 1,016
Loc: Jawjuh.
Last seen: 7 months, 24 days
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Re: R.I. Senate to consider loosening marijuana laws [Re: SbstratAlchemist]
#11723808 - 12/26/09 10:52 PM (2 years, 4 months ago) |
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well if you sent a donation to norml last time send one to maps this time 
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Ythan
٩(●̮̮̃•̃)۶
Registered: 08/08/97
Posts: 14,933
Loc: NY/MA/VT Border
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Re: R.I. Senate to consider loosening marijuana laws [Re: SbstratAlchemist]
#11724350 - 12/27/09 01:48 AM (2 years, 4 months ago) |
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I've always contributed to MAPS after seeing this post. 
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LadyLittleZeppelin
Stoner
 
Registered: 10/30/09
Posts: 1,497
Last seen: 2 hours, 53 minutes
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Re: R.I. Senate to consider loosening marijuana laws [Re: Ythan]
#11725684 - 12/27/09 10:35 AM (2 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Ythan said:
I've always contributed to MAPS after seeing this post.
What the president of norml is quite the asshole. MAPS all the way!
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SHROOMS MAKE YOU GAY
~
Crystal G said:
its cuzzzzzz i giiiiiive a meeeeean blooooowjjjobbbb.
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MyOwnReality
OrigionalPranksta
Registered: 04/11/05
Posts: 171
Loc: The Road to Everywhere
Last seen: 1 month, 5 days
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MAPS is good because they don't have all the infighting that the NORML groups have, thats one of the major reasons why the marijuana legalization movement remained stifled for so long. All the power struggles from within wasted time and energy. Rick Doblin spoke at burningman this year and in his lecture he spoke about the inherent troubles that the psychedelic and pro legalization movement has faced, and one of those is the huge backlash caused by uncareful steps taken by extremists.
The fact is we have to take careful steps, be discreet like the draconian nanny state that has gotten us where we are today. It took 60 years from the first inklings of basic controls like labels and warning to get to the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. In the early 1900's making drugs illegal would have required a constitutional ammendment, but slowly through propaganda and ever growing restrictions(tax stamps etc) we got to where we are today.
So in essence that's what all the infighting in the pro mj camp was about, some people wanted a careful approach, others were radical, didn't see the giant pot farm at the bottom of the 'slippery slope.' We'll get there we just gotta keep all the nutballs who are calling for the end game when we're still in the middle hushed up until we can get there. Patience my friends patience.
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winterone
Earth Wanderer
Registered: 11/08/09
Posts: 230
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
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Re: R.I. Senate to consider loosening marijuana laws [Re: MyOwnReality]
#11730551 - 12/28/09 08:22 AM (2 years, 4 months ago) |
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Respect the enemy and usurp through education and common sense. Doesn't hurt to hit them in the pocketbook either.
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Alice
I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!
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LadyLittleZeppelin
Stoner
Registered: 10/30/09
Posts: 1,497
Last seen: 2 hours, 53 minutes
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Re: R.I. Senate to consider loosening marijuana laws [Re: MyOwnReality]
#11730849 - 12/28/09 09:37 AM (2 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
MyOwnReality said:
MAPS is good because they don't have all the infighting that the NORML groups have, thats one of the major reasons why the marijuana legalization movement remained stifled for so long. All the power struggles from within wasted time and energy. Rick Doblin spoke at burningman this year and in his lecture he spoke about the inherent troubles that the psychedelic and pro legalization movement has faced, and one of those is the huge backlash caused by uncareful steps taken by extremists.
The fact is we have to take careful steps, be discreet like the draconian nanny state that has gotten us where we are today. It took 60 years from the first inklings of basic controls like labels and warning to get to the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. In the early 1900's making drugs illegal would have required a constitutional ammendment, but slowly through propaganda and ever growing restrictions(tax stamps etc) we got to where we are today.
So in essence that's what all the infighting in the pro mj camp was about, some people wanted a careful approach, others were radical, didn't see the giant pot farm at the bottom of the 'slippery slope.' We'll get there we just gotta keep all the nutballs who are calling for the end game when we're still in the middle hushed up until we can get there. Patience my friends patience.
--------------------
SHROOMS MAKE YOU GAY
~
Crystal G said:
its cuzzzzzz i giiiiiive a meeeeean blooooowjjjobbbb.
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ProCompost
Stranger
Registered: 12/18/09
Posts: 7
Last seen: 2 years, 3 months
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Good luck, Rhode Island.
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