R.I.: Help gather co-sponsors for decriminalization legislation

Published: January 4, 2012

The 2012 legislative session kicked off yesterday in Providence and legislators are hard at work. Senator Joshua Miller (D – Cranston) and Rep. John G. Edwards (D – Portsmouth, Tiverton) plan to introduce companion legislation that would decriminalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. Please email your state legislators and ask that they support decriminalizing marijuana possession by co-sponsoring this important legislation!

Their bills are similar to the proposal the Rhode Island General Assembly had before it last session. 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 – would be replaced with a civil fine of $150. This change would enable Rhode Island to redirect its precious resources towards crimes of violence, as opposed to wasting tax dollars on arresting and prosecuting non-violent citizens for simply possessing a modest amount of marijuana.

Ask your elected officials to support sensible marijuana reform by co-sponsoring decriminalization legislation.

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