Pubdate: Mon, 26 Nov 2012
Source: Patriot-News, The (PA)
Copyright: 2012 The Patriot-News
Contact: http://www.pennlive.com/mailforms/patriotletters/
Website: http://www.pennlive.com/patriotnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1630
Author: Matthew Kemeny

LEGAL MARIJUANA IS NOT IN PENNSYLVANIA'S FORESEEABLE FUTURE

Don't expect the Keystone State to be the Key-stoned State anytime soon.

While voters in Colorado and Washington approved citizen-proposed 
referendums this month legalizing recreational marijuana use, 
Pennsylvania has a long way to go before such a question makes its 
way on the ballot, midstate attorneys and legalization advocates agree.

Supporters say legalizing marijuana would be a boon for the economy, 
potentially generating millions in tax revenue, while opponents argue 
readily available pot would lead to people using drugs with more 
devastating effects.

"I don't need a study to tell me marijuana is a gateway drug. I see 
it every day," Cumberland County District Attorney David J. Freed 
said. "We in law enforcement have to clean up the mess."

Dauphin County District Attorney Edward M. Marsico Jr. said an 
additional concern would be more people driving under the influence.

A Yale University study this year showed alcohol, cigarettes and 
marijuana were associated with an increased likelihood of 
prescription drug abuse in men ages 18-25. The findings were 
published online in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

But a three-year-old study funded by the U.S. Department of Health 
and Human Services showed first-time marijuana use far outnumbered 
that of first-time heroin and cocaine use.

In 2009, about 2.3 million people over the age of 12 tried pot, while 
about 617,000 tried cocaine and about 180,000 tried heroin, according 
to the study.

"The current arguments (against legalization) are invalid," said 
Derek Rosenzweig, cofounder of Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana 
and spokesman for the Philadelphia chapter of the National 
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. "There are so many 
reasons to go forward with it."

Rosenzweig and others believe legalizing weed would bring the state 
millions in tax revenue, reduce law enforcement costs and bring in 
more tourism dollars.

Colorado's law, for instance, gives state and local government the 
ability to control and tax the sale of small amounts of marijuana to 
adults age 21 and older. Analysts project the tax revenue could 
generate somewhere between $5 million and $22 million in the state.

But there are other benefits, Rosenzweig said.

"It would engender a better relationship between law enforcement and 
the general public," he said. "People can be secure in the fact 
they're not doing anything illegal."

Pro-pot groups hope to see legislation introduced in 2013 that would 
legalize marijuana for medicinal use. Currently, 18 states and the 
District of Columbia permit medical marijuana.

Similar proposals have failed in Pennsylvania's General Assembly in 
2009 and 2011. In addition, Gov. Tom Corbett has said he would veto 
any legalization bill, including medical marijuana, citing marijuana 
as a "gateway drug."

Nevertheless, Rosenzweig believes there's support in Pennsylvania not 
just for medical marijuana, but for recreational use, too.

In Pennsylvania, a change in the law would have to come from the 
Legislature, unlike other states such as Colorado and Washington 
which permit citizen-initiated referendums.

Possession of a small amount of marijuana -- defined as less than 30 
grams -- is a misdemeanor in Pennsylvania. Penalties are up to 30 
days in jail and a $500 fine.

Freed believes the law shouldn't change.

"I do take a hard line on major dealers and manufacturers for two 
reasons," he said. "Drug dealing, any drug, is inherently violent activity."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom