Pot Possession Fines Increasing?
Just in from the Marijuana Policy Project: S.B. 797 will be heading to the state assembly within the next couple days. S.B. 797 will downgrade simple possession of no more than 28.5 grams of marijuana to an infraction, as opposed to a misdemeanor as it currently is. This would seem to be a good thing.
The downside is they're going to increase the fine for the second offense to $250 from the current $100. It's unclear whether the fine will change for the first offense. This also means, since it will be an infraction, defendants are no longer entitled to a jury trial.
They can't just drop it, can they? Rather than just dropping the offense to an infraction, they have to raise the fines, as well. The MPP release says prosecutors support the bill because it makes it easier to convict and raises the fine. That's a fine kettle of fish to have to live with.
Around 25 years ago a friend, now retired from the Casa Grande, AZ Police Department, told me, "The only reason drugs aren't legal is because they haven't found a way to tax them yet.".
Looks like they're working on it now.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 11:11 AM
37 comments
37 Comments:
Your friend from the Casa Grande Arizona was an ignorant dumb ass if he really said that. If so does he still feel the same way ?
Do you think that if the government could tax meth, Extacy, and heroin they would make it legal ? If you really think that you are an idiot.
Just look at what drug use has done to people around here. It's the use/abuse, the addiction that's the problem, not the fact that it is illegal.
I think just about anything's on the table when there's money involved. One thing to take into cosideration, though, is which "lobby" is more powerful: Agencies like the DEA, with billions of dollars to lose by ending prohibition, or groups that might benefit from taxes on sales of drugs, or even fines, like they do with pot?
Less people supposedly had problems with drugs before prohibition. It will be interesting to see, should the drug cartels decide to get involved with smuggling of tobacco, if more people end up smoking than are now. Tobacco would certainly be more easily and, perhaps, cheaper, if the cartels decide to get involved.
As aside, with regards to law enforcement who aren't to hot on the drug wars, there is Law Enforcement Against Prohibition aka LEAP:
http://www.leap.cc/
Just look at what drug use has done to people around here. It's the use/abuse, the addiction that's the problem, not the fact that it is illegal.
Ask yourself then why we don't have more potheads in this area (well, more then we already do). Heroin and meth aren't made that easy, yet they are in heavy use in Humboldt County, over pot, which pretty much, grows wild.
The people go for the harder hitting stuff....because?
Even a dumb ass like anon 11:29 must admit that public skool dropouts know drugs are bad for you. If adult nitwits wish to put the stuff in their own bodies let Darwin sort them out. Your retired cop friend has it right. The government bureaucracies are the real winners in the "war on drugs". BTW heroin, cocain and opium were sold at corner drug stores prior to 1913. What? No turf wars, overdoses and non violent jailbirds? Tsk tsk.
Where the *&^% have you been ? There is pot use EVERYWHERE in Humboldt. Junior High on up. And that's one of the reasons there is so much meth heroin and cocaine.
If you can buy, swallow, Fred's theory that DEA's lobby keeps drugs illegal you are too far gone to save. And Fred is circling Pluto waiting for reentry.
And to the stupid c&^%sucker 12:39 let Darwin sort them out. Boy is that really bright. If meth was legal you think less people would use it ? Do you think the related crime, other than maybe theft, would go down ? I'm talking about domestic violence, all types of violence, child neglect, etc. Accidents due to driving under the influence of drugs ? What about the kids that would suffer ? Maybe your wife (or domestic partner) would be hurt or killed by a tweeker while traveling to SoHum to get some corn meal mush. Can you really be that stupid ? Hard for me to believe.
Dear stupid National Socialist *%#@sucker 2:06 pm. All of the acts you describe are already CRIMES. If you are a male (and we have no way of determining so from your anonymous "comments") should we amputate your penis to preclude you from committing the crime of rape? Or on the off chance you are a female, perform a hysterectomy to prevent you from abusing any possible children?
By the way asshat: cut and paste your comments from another application that allows spellcheck since you learned to spell at a public skool.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Asshat.
I love that word, I really do.
Just think about that word "Asshat"
You guys ever think of writing children's books?
oooh! name-calling!!! fun fun fun!
I actually agree with the ancient Greek cop to a limited degree,
Yes, people should be allowed to smoke cannabis and the "war on drugs," which is actually a war on the people, should end.
As for Darwin: fuck Darwin. I think that we can sort Darwin out with the other "classical" heroes of racist Eurocentric miseducation.
It's just obvious that prohibition is a great harm. Ingesting cannabis, on the other hand, is not inherently harmful.
For those who would argue that it leads to impaired decision-making ability, I urge you to look at the decisions you have made in your own life before trying to go out and make everyone else's decisions for their lives.
For all of you dopers out there (and ΛΕΟΝΙΔΑΣ has hauled a shitload of you off to the slammer): If you want to screw up your life with "substances" be my guest. But the minute you harm another person as a result of your selfish habit I hope to see you rot in a Cuban "re-education" camp. As for "Darwin", the use of the term merely refers to the weeding out of the "stupid" plazoid; notwithstanding your "diversity" baloney
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
#%^&&$#
Are you suggesting you're a cop, a law enforcment officer ? I thought cops had to have some kind of test, standards ? Guess that is a myth.
asshat 7:03 pm: I was a "cop" probably before the better part of you was a sheet stain. Use your superior computer skills to check out my bio. Standards? Give us yours.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Oh, well, if it's in your Internet bio it must be true. Say no more.
No, really, say no more.
2:06 AM Where do we go to get yours?
What happened Greek copper ? Why only 15 years ? Why didn't you go to full retirement ?
I think Plazoid and the Greek, ex-cop, should mate !
The fines for possession essentially act as a tax. There is no one reason why drugs remain illegal. Health issues, moral issues, historic precedent and economic issues all play a role.
What I don't understand is the motivation to include derisive tone in a discussion such as this one. Is it an attention getting tactic? Is it meant to be humorous? I can't see any meaningful advantage to using inflammatory language in this context.
anon 7:49 For the "full" story (limited time offer) you will have to provide a valid credit card # and be charged $19.95 But Wait!! There's more! If you can prove that you are not anon 7:54 we will include absolutely FREE easy to follow instructions on how to tie your shoes.
What's up with that ? A touchy subject ? Where's Paul Harvey when you need him ?
Stand by for NEWS!
I guess Nick the Greek didn't want to respond to that one.
Respond to what? Who's Nick the Greek? What was the subject of this thread?
Never Mind !
Here's some video from LEAP: http://stopthedrugwar.org/videos/leap
Just for your information no real cop would have anything to do with LEAP!
oh Ancient Greek God-Ego:
so you "made a living" throughing people like me off to jail, eh?
good for you, goon for hire.
and who exactly were you gooning for? the American people? what about all the American people who use cannabis and are now in jails and prisons?
touchy subject? how many more lives will be needlessly torn apart before it becomes a touchy enough issue to require change?
Plazoid (if that's you and not the asshat) I don't give a rip what you smoke, snort or shoot. It's your body. In case you failed to understand: I AM AGAINST THE "WAR ON DRUGS". I think you may be asshat due to your crappy spelling e.g. ... throughing [sic] people like me off to jail...
No Butt Breath I think I'm Asshat. I'm certainly not the Plazoid Puke. I'm surprised you're not bright enough to figure that one out.
And Nickie why are you against the war on drugs ? It doesn't stop you from getting your Lithium does it?
Nick must be on vaction or out on a secret mission ?
Hi Fred & everyone , I just stumbled on your site regarding marijuana . Not only have i been fixing all the problems that , Peter Lavalle is creating for this City but , i would want the E.P.D. & Drug enforcement not to make any further arrests to marijuana possession . Instead of wasting our dollars on making senseless Pot busts , i need to see them concentrate on alcohol and white powder drugs . JERRY DROZ
CANDIDATE FOR EUREKA MAYOR
Opps , i meant ........further arrests FOR marijuana possession.
JERRY DROZ
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