Pubdate: Fri, 16 Nov 2012
Source: Salem News (MA)
Copyright: 2012 Associated Press
Contact: http://www.salemnews.com/contactus/local_story_015132129.html
Website: http://www.salemnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3466
Author: David Klepper

RI, MAINE LAWMAKERS SEEK TO LEGALIZE POT

PROVIDENCE, R. I. (AP) - Recent campaigns that made Colorado and 
Washington the first states in the U.S. to legalize recreational 
marijuana are energizing efforts to do the same in New England, with 
lawmakers in Rhode Island and Maine vowing to push legislation next 
year to impose alcohol style regulations and taxes on the drug.

Rhode Island Rep. Edith Ajello, D- Providence, said yesterday that 
the passage of legalization referendums in the two Western states are 
the latest indication that American attitudes toward marijuana are softening.

She said the regulated sale of marijuana would eliminate the black 
market while raising a projected $ 10 million in revenue for 
government coffers. The state would also save some $ 20 million a 
year simply by no longer arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating 
people for marijuana offenses.

"Our prohibition has failed," she said. "I think legalizing and 
taxing it, just as we did to alcohol, is the way to do it."

Maine Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland, said she also will propose 
legislation to legalize marijuana in her state, and estimated that 
sales taxes on its purchase there would raise $8 million.

Robert Capecchi of the Marijuana Policy Project said he expects other 
states to follow suit.

He said the successful efforts in Washington and Colorado may 
represent a "tipping point" for proposals long consigned to the 
political fringe.

Eighteen states and the District of Columbia now have medical 
marijuana programs, and 16 states, including Rhode Island, have 
rescinded criminal penalties for adults who possess small quantities 
of the drug.

Voters in Washington and Colorado approved ballot questions last week 
that will authorize adults to possess up to an ounce of marijuana.

Both states are holding off on crafting regulations for its sale and 
taxation of marijuana while they await the response of the federal 
government, which classifies marijuana as an illegal drug but has 
often turned a blind eye to state medical marijuana programs.

The threat of federal drug raids will be a concern as long as there 
is a conflict between state and federal drug policy, Russell said. 
She noted proposals in Congress that would prevent federal 
intervention in states that have legalized marijuana.

"The people are far ahead of the politicians on this," Russell said. 
"Just in the past few weeks, we've seen the culture shift dramatically."

Ajello introduced legislation to legalize marijuana in Rhode Island 
in 2011 and again this year, but the bills never went to a vote. 
Instead, lawmakers voted to replace criminal penalties for adults 
caught with a small amount of pot with something more like a parking ticket.

When the new law takes effect April 1, adults caught with an ounce or 
less 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. It will still be illegal to drive under the 
influence of marijuana, and minors caught with pot would have to 
complete a drug awareness program and community service.
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