Hawaii:Decriminalize Marijuana Passes, Moves to House

[justpassnthru]

Some good news from the islands...

http://hawaiinewsdaily.com/2013/02/hearing-for-hawaii-senate-bill-to-decriminalize-marijuana/

February 26, 2013
By Charlie Cook
UPDATED
A bill aimed at decriminalizing marijuana in Hawaii has been passed by the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee. The measure will now move on to the House for consideration.
SB472 Relating to Marijuana would remove criminal penalties for possession of an ounce or less of cannabis, making it subject instead to a simple fine of not more than $100.
Why SB472 is a good idea.
Decriminalization allows police to spend money on serious and violent crimes:

• Decriminalizing possession of less than an ounce of marijuana could save state and county governments in Hawai‘i an estimated $9 million annually.(1)
• Nationally, approximately $8 billion is spent every year arresting and prosecuting individuals for marijuana violations.2 Almost 90% of these arrests are for marijuana possession only.(3)
• Since 2004, possession arrests in Hawai‘i have increased almost 50% and distribution arrests almost doubled.(1)
• Decriminalization does not allow anyone to sell marijuana, nor does it allow anyone to purchase or possess marijuana.
• Marijuana is not a “gateway drug”. The National Academy of Sciences found, “There is no conclusive evidence that the drug effects of marijuana are causally linked to the subsequent abuse of other illicit drugs.”(8)
• Compared to possession of marijuana – ice and violent crimes are much bigger problems. Our police should spend more time and resou

Check out the link for the remainder of the article... jpt

 

[CosmicGiggle]

Good news indeed!

Things are starting to open up just about everywhere now.

 

[festivus]

Not good news, the bill didn't make it out of the House. As posted on KITV 4's site-

The proposal was the last of several attempts to legalize or decriminalize the drug this year.

Rep. Karl Rhoads says there weren't enough votes to pass the proposal.

The state Senate approved the bill earlier this session. Advocates said the measure could help lighten the backlog in the state's criminal justice system.

Because Hawaii has a biennial Legislature, the House could take up the bill again next year. But Rhoads says he doubts that it will have much of a chance given that it was such a moderate proposal.

The bill's death concludes weeks of debate over the drug in the Hawaii Legislature that attracted fervent testimony from both marijuana advocates and law enforcement officials.


Read more: http://www.kitv.com/news/politics/H.../19603808/-/paupcc/-/index.html#ixzz2PWVKnuii

 

[Benjamin Check]

Marijuana isn't decriminalized in Hawaii? Wow....I was there blazing it up like it was all good....I just assumed it was. Glad I didn't make an ass of myself and get locked up on vacation with mom dukes.

 

[Hawaiiguy]

Marijuana isn't decriminalized in Hawaii? Wow....I was there blazing it up like it was all good....I just assumed it was. Glad I didn't make an ass of myself and get locked up on vacation with mom dukes.

Ok, I was going to offer a comment, living in Hawaii, but decided not to when I saw that you had quoted "Jay-Z" like he was some sort of poet laureate. He is, in fact, a worthless low life c-rapper. He is what wood chippers were designed for. Hopefully, a few others like Kanye and Rhianna will lube the way.

 

[Able Mind]

dam, close but no cigar...