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The Rhode Island House and Senate voted overwhelmingly in support of two bills to decrease penalties for small marijuana possession in the state.
The bills (which passed 50 to 24 in the House and 28 to 6 in the Senate) now await a vote in their opposite chamber before heading to Gov. Chafee, who said he was ‘inclined’ to sign it.
The new law would decriminalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana, making it a civil offense punishable by a $150 fine. Under current law, possession of any amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor and could put you behind bars for up to a year with a fine of up to $500.
The law would go into effect on April 1, 2013, and make Rhode Island the 15th state to decrease penalties for marijuana possession.
From this effort in Rhode Island, to NY Gov. Cuomo’s call to decriminalize marijuana in public view and the fight for medical marijuana there, to the recent victory for patients in Connecticut, to the strong ballot initiatives in Colorado, Washington, Massachusetts and elsewhere, 2012 is shaping up to be a big year for marijuana reform.
8 Comments
Clearly April 1, 2013 may be a bad day for the distillers and brewers; the pricks. So much for puritanical religious bullshit.
Yes, but will 0 still bust people. I thought he was doing it even if the states had medical marijuana laws?
Obama can’t stop this and I’m sure will back off after his re-election. Coward.
Yep, the dea and hls will be there next week and No he won’t back off after the election.
You on Break?
Obama is a hypocrite as well as a coward, but Willard will be far worse.
but Willard will be far worse.
If worse is to be done (and I’m sure it will) then let it be done by a Republican.
The people will be allowed to have pot and to marry someone of their own gender as consolation to the fact everyone but the 1% will be living as serfs.
Same-sex marriage may come to pass, but I don’t think pot legalization will make much more headway – it’s a great feeder for the prison-industry complex. Certainly if you’re a black or brown pot aficionado you’ll have to continue to watch your step.