Pubdate: Mon, 11 Jun 2012
Source: Daily Item (Sunbury, PA)
Copyright: 2012 The Daily Item
Contact:  http://www.dailyitem.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1045

RI POISED TO DECRIMINALIZE POT POSSESSION

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Once consigned to the political fringe, marijuana 
policy is appearing on legislative agendas around the country thanks 
to an energized base of supporters and an increasingly openminded 
public. Lawmakers from Rhode Island to Colorado are mulling medical 
marijuana programs, pot dispensaries, decriminalization and even legalization.

Rhode Island is poised to become the 15th state to decriminalize 
marijuana possession. The state's General Assembly passed legislation 
last week that would eliminate the threat of big fines or even jail 
time for the possession of an ounce or less of pot. Instead, adults 
caught with small amounts of marijuana would face a $150 civil fine. 
Police would confiscate the marijuana, but the incident would not 
appear on a person's criminal record.
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