Letter: Decriminalization Effort A Good First Step
Buster Jones
August 24, 2009
The Albany Herald (GA)
Lest there be any confusion, NORML strongly favors marijuana legalization over decriminalization. Period.
Instructively, an eye-popping 73 percent of Americans surveyed support decriminalizing cannabis, while only 42 percent support outright legalization. So while we build support for the ultimate goal of legalization, it's also important to support efforts at decriminalization, like HR 2943, the act to remove federal penalties for the personal use of marijuana by responsible adults, reintroduced in Congress this June by co-sponsors Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Ron Paul, R-Texas.
If passed, HR 2943 would eliminate federal penalties for personal possession of up to 100 grams (over 3.5 ounces) of cannabis, as well as for the nonprofit transfer of up to one ounce, making prosecution (if any) for these acts strictly a state matter.
Currently, 13 states with a combined population of over 115 million citizens have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis. In 2007, over 872,000 citizens nationwide were arrested on cannabis-related charges, 90 percent for possession only.
Thankfully, many hundreds of thousands of our brethren who live in decriminalized states face a fine-only citation and are usually on their way after their police encounter, rather than being dragged off to America's drug gulags. |
