R.I.: Do your state legislators support decriminalization?

Published: January 14, 2011

The 2011 legislative session has officially begun in Providence and it’s time to get back to work. Despite the recent “snow event,” legislators have been hard at work, including Senator Joshua Miller (D – Cranston) and Rep. John G. Edwards (D – Portsmouth, Tiverton), who both plan on introducing legislation that would replace the current criminal penalty for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana with a simple civil fine. Please e-mail your state legislators and ask that they support decriminalizing marijuana possession by co-sponsoring this important legislation!

These bills would replace the current misdemeanor penalty for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana – up to a year in jail and a $200 to $500 criminal fine – with a simple civil fine. This change would end the current practice of wasting Rhode Island tax dollars on arresting and prosecuting low-level marijuana offenders for possession of a modest amount of marijuana. Please, let your legislators know that responsible adults in possession of small amounts of marijuana shouldn’t be subject to the stigma of a criminal record and unfair long-term consequences that stem from the current criminal penalty for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. Ask them to support sensible marijuana reform.

It is also very important that the elected officials in Providence hear from supportive opinion leaders and people who would be personally affected by this bill. If you are a lawyer, clergy member, member of law enforcement, or have been personally affected by the current criminal penalties for modest possession of marijuana, please e-mail state@mpp.org to see how you can help.

Finally, feel free to pass this alert on to friends and family, so that they, too, can speak out for more sensible and fair marijuana laws.

With your help, we can and will sensibly reform Rhode Island’s marijuana laws this session. Thank you for your help.