Pubdate: Wed, 26 Dec 2012
Source: Pottstown Mercury (PA)
Copyright: 2012 The Mercury, a Journal Register Property
Contact:  http://www.pottstownmercury.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2287
Author: Peter Jackson, Associated Press

PENNSYLVANIA MARIJUANA PROPONENTS BUOYED BY RECENT LEGALIZATION VOTES

HARRISBURG- Some advocates of repealing or relaxing Pennsylvania's
anti-marijuana laws say they are encouraged by referendum votes to
legalize recreational use of the drug in Colorado and Washington
state, but Gov. Tom Corbett vows to veto any such bill.

State Sen. Daylin Leach, who sponsored one of two medical-marijuana
bills that died in committee during the just-ended legislative
session, said the referendums results will help pave the way for
similar measures in other states.

Leach, D-Montgomery, compared marijuana legalization efforts to the
debate over legalizing same-sex marriage, saying that once a few
states act, it will reveal the falsity of "all the horror stories"
perpetuated by opponents.

"More and more states will do it, and as more states do it, the
arguments against it will become weaker and weaker," he said.

Leach said he intends to resurrect his bill to allow marijuana use for
medical purposes and will also sponsor a bill to decriminalize the
drug.

"The smoking of marijuana should not be handled as a criminal justice
issue," he said.

Chris Goldstein, a board member of the Philadelphia chapter of the
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, agreed that
the Colorado and Washington balloting will bolster support for
legalizing marijuana, especially for medical reasons.

Goldstein cited a May 2010 poll by Franklin & Marshall College in
Lancaster showing that 80 percent of Pennsylvanians favored the
medical use of marijuana.

"It's a bipartisan issue," he said. "I don't think that legislators
can make it a back-burner issue any more."

But Republican Gov. Tom Corbett's spokesman, Kevin Harley, said
Corbett would veto any legalization bill, even if it were limited to
medical purposes.

"He believes that smoking marijuana is a crime, should remain a crime
and that marijuana is a gateway drug," Harley said.

State Rep. Mark Cohen, a Philadelphia Democrat who unsuccessfully
sponsored medical-marijuana bills in the last two legislative
sessions, said he would introduce similar legislation in the next
session but he is not optimistic about its prospects.

Cohen said the proposal lacks support among his fellow Democrats and
has no support from the Republican majority.

Unless that changes, "it's obvious we don't have the votes to pass
it," he said. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D