Poland’s Marijuana Movement
On September 11, 2008 in Activism, Government, In The News, Legalization, World
According to Polish Radio, a campaign to loosen the marijuana laws is underway in Poland. A petition to the Ministry of Justice requesting the legalization of marijuana for personal use has already been signed by hundreds of people, including drug rehab specialists and members of Monar, a nonprofit group that works with addicts, the HIV/AIDS positive, and the homeless. Read the rest of this entry »
Massachusetts Decriminalization Initiative Polling Well
On August 29, 2008 in Government, In The News, Legalization, Medical Marijuana
A Massachusetts initiative that would decriminalize marijuana possession looks set to win in November, if polling numbers from this month are any indication. According to a 7NEWS/Suffolk University poll, the initiative now has the approval of 72% of voters. Only 22% of respondents said they opposed the decrim measure, while 6% had no opinion.
The initiative, sponsored by the Committee for Responsible Marijuana Policy, would replace current criminal penalties for marijuana possession with a civil penalty of forfeiture of the marijuana and a $100 fine.
It looks like the Massachusetts public is on board with decrim, said David Paleologos, director of the Political Research Center at Suffolk University. “This issue suggests that there is a libertarian streak in the thinking of Massachusetts voters,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »
Federal Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Has Its Coming Out Party
On August 08, 2008 in Government, Legalization
For the first time in decades, a marijuana decriminalization bill is before the Congress. Introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) in April 2008, the Act to Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults (H.R. 5843) got its coming out party Wednesday [July 30, 2008] as Frank, a handful of other representatives, and leaders of prominent drug reform organizations held a Capitol Hill press conference to push for the bill.
In the eyes of many, the bill couldn’t come soon enough. Since 1965, more than 20 million Americans have been arrested on marijuana charges, 830,000 in 2006. Of those, nearly 90% were for simple possession. In addition to the jail time and other costs imposed on offenders, marijuana law enforcement costs society more than $7 billion a year. Read the rest of this entry »
