Pubdate: Fri, 15 Feb 2008
Source: Burlington Free Press (VT)
Copyright: 2008 Burlington Free Press
Contact: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/letters.shtml
Website: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/632
Author: Terri Hallenbeck
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

SENATE SENDS MARIJUANA BILL TO HOUSE

MONTPELIER -- A bill that would end jail terms for  first- and 
second-time offenders caught with small  amounts of marijuana won 
final approval in the state  Senate on Thursday.

Senate action on the marijuana bill came after members  rejected an 
amendment offered by Sen. George  Coppenrath, R-Caledonia, that would 
have given state's  attorneys the option of charging those caught 
with an  ounce or less with a crime or sending them to a 
court  diversion program through which they would not have 
a  criminal record. Instead the bill leaves the decision  of whether 
to accept diversion up to the defendant.

The measure goes to the House, where the chairman of  the Judiciary 
Committee, Rep. William Lippert,  D-Hinesburg, said Thursday he 
hadn't read it and  couldn't predict its fate.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom