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A legislative effort to reduce marijuana arrests by decriminalizing possession that is in “public view” appears to have failed in New York. The bill had passed the Democratic controlled State Assembly after being recently endorsed by Governor Andrew Cuomo (D), but it failed to get a vote in the Republican controlled State Senate. From the New York Times:
The demise of the proposal came amid a last-minute push to tie up loose ends before the close of the session, which is scheduled to conclude on Thursday. All legislative seats are on the ballot in the elections this year, and Republican senators have pointedly refused to take up several issues that are avidly sought by Democrats in the Assembly but that might upset conservatives, including the marijuana bill and a measure to raise the state’s minimum wage.
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In private discussions about the marijuana bill, Senate Republicans raised concerns about the amount of marijuana that Mr. Cuomo’s bill would have allowed people to possess in public without being charged with a misdemeanor — 25 grams. By one calculation, that would produce 63 marijuana cigarettes — one for each member of the Senate next year, as a Republican senator joked at a discussion of the proposal.
The failure of this bill is a disappointing setback for the marijuana reform movement. It will likely mean that tens thousands of primarily young African-Americans and Latinos will be arrested this year in New York for simple possession of marijuana, wasting the State millions of dollars.
Its failure this round, though, is not completely unexpected. Governor Coumo only come out in support of the measure two weeks ago. That was towards the very end of this particular legislative session and only months out from the election. That gave activists relatively little time to build popular support and gave legislators only a brief window to work on it this session to try to come up with possible compromises. Several other pending issues took up much of the legislature’s final few days in session.
The prospects for a similar marijuana decriminalization bill next year look much better. Now the issue has the backing of the governor, it is much more likely to be brought up and aggressively pushed in future sessions. With more time for the legislature to debate the issue, likely a new mix of representatives elected and continued growing popular support for marijuana reform, conditions should be more favorable next year.
12 Comments
“25 grams. By one calculation, that would produce 63 marijuana cigarettes”
What kinda pinners are these rookies rolling?
Oops, never mind – forgot calculations are always made to generate the highest possible ‘street value’.
We need to link taxing pot too two things creating or keeping existing jobs and tax increases. We need to point out that the states are broke we can fire a ton of teachers, police, firemen etc and still raise taxes.
Or we can increase taxes on the rich most states will probably do both.
When the GOP says no to taxing pot we say ok then lets tax the rich. If the GOP say cut teachers, police, firemen then we say sure starting with your neighborhood.
You can send your kids to private schools the same ones that educated Bush and taught Geithner economics, you can afford rent a cops heck non union rent a cops are probably cheaper didn’t George Zimmermen work at private security at rave’s now we find out he’s on medication for
http://my.firedoglake.com/mason/2012/06/19/zimmerman-update-six-recorded-jailhouse-phone-calls-released/
If you rich guys want non union police then you end up getting guys like George. Given the sad state of healthcare in this country and gun laws yes guys like George are guarding your home.
In more civilized countries guys like George would never own a gun.
Tell me rich guys do you really trust low bid non union workers to provide you safe drinking water? Do you really think free enterprise can stop other rich guys from polluting your water and air?
Whether its private charter schools, private prisons or the postal service government does the job better and quite often cheaper.
Certainty is a lot to put at risk.
Special Book Salon up with Chris Hayes’ Twilight Of The Elites: America After Meritocracy hosted by David Dayen
“Land of the Free” my ass. More like the land of draconian drug policies enacted by the puppets of Big Pharma, Big Booze, Big Private Prisons, and the DEA.
Yes, a person with low self control has the deck stacked against him.
Have another drink.
And the other shoe drops.
What other aspects of my life would you like to control because it upsets your morality? Yeah, come and try whenever you like.
The really great thing about marijuana prohibition, is all the old testament admonitions about it (canna-bosm) being reserved for use by levitical types only. The comment on marijuana prohibition, that; “We’re all Amalekites now”, evokes this somewhat.
Can’t have the ignorant rabble having their own encounters with the burning bush.
In that case, take another toke.
Why is it MY morality?
I have nothing to do with NY laws. The down sides I posted in #4 were from a pro-MJ editoral in one of the NY newspapers. As I said, it sure looks like a lot of down-side.
What’s the make-up of the person who would risk all that? Insane, doesn’t know better? Addict, can’t stop? Low self control, find’s it too hard to say no? Defiant, nobody tells me what to do? Denier or thinks he’s too clever, doesn’t think he’ll get caught? Normal and willing to accept the consequences? Thrill seeker, wanting to push the envelope?
Why do you think someone would risk all of #4 for a smoke?