Testimony from a former police officer, a professor, and patients with HIV and an artificial hip wasn't enough to sway lawmakers on a House subcommittee Wednesday evening. Both of Del. Harvey Morgan's bills to loosen restrictions on medical marijuana and reduce marijuana-related penalities were voted down.

The Gloucester Republican' s first proposal, to decriminalize possession of small amounts of the drug and reduce penalties for distributing certain quantities, was voted down by committee members who disputed that it would save the state money and said it eased the punishments dealt out to drug dealers.

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