Bill To Decriminalize Marijuana Possession Moves Forward In New Jersey

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

Yeah so I posted about this bill like a year ago, and it seems it has mad some progress lately. If you are the political active type, or live in NJ or nearby, a call to the assembly would be much appreciated.

http://medicalmarijuana.com/medical-marijuana-news/title.cfm?artId=437

Members of the state Assembly Judiciary Committee voted unanimously today in favor of Assembly Bill 1465, bi-partisan legislation which reduces criminal penalties for those who possess personal use quantities of marijuana.

Witnesses who testified at the hearing were almost uniformly in favor of the legislation, which is similar to the laws of 14 other states. You can read NORML’s written testimony to the Committee here.

Assembly Bill 1465 removes criminal penalties for the possession of up to 15 grams (approximately one-half ounce) of marijuana, replacing them with civil penalties punishable by no more than a $150 fine and no criminal record. Under present law, the possession of minor amounts of marijuana is a criminal offense punishable by up to six-months in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Last year, Connecticut NORML spearheaded a successful legislative effort in that state to pass a nearly identical marijuana decriminalization bill. Passage of that measure has since led to a dramatic decline in the total number of marijuana arrests.

In 2009 (the most recent year for which data is available), 22,439 New Jersey citizens were arrested for possessing small amounts of marijuana. Passage of A. 1465 measure would spare many of these citizens from criminal arrest, prosecution, and incarceration, as well as the emotional and financial hardships that follow — including the loss of certain jobs, students loans, federal and state subsidies, and child custody rights. Further, this change would provide immediate legal protections for some New Jersey patients, who presently benefit from the therapeutic use of cannabis, but remain at risk because the state’s two-and-a-half year-old medical marijuana law remains inactive.

A. 1465 is now pending before the full Assembly. Separate Senate legislation to decriminalize cannabis possession has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. For decriminalization to become reality in New Jersey, the measure must pass both the Assembly and the Senate. The measure would then await action from Gov. Chris Christie.

If you reside in the Garden State, you are urged to please contact your member of the state Assembly and urge them to vote ‘yes’ on A. 1465 by visiting NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’ here.

Additional information is available from NORML New Jersey here or via CMM-NJ here.

This has been scheduled for vote on May 24th, but was postponed due to haggling over some amendments. Not due to lack of support, this bill has 15 democrat and 3 republican co-sponsors, and managed to pass the judiciary commitee by a 7-0 vote, which is pretty amazing when I think about it. I'll try to keep following this even though I dont get on her much lately.

hell, maybe one day NJ will finally get its own state forum....

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

here is an article about the postponement.

http://www.normlnj.org/blog/uncateg...n-bill-to-decriminalize-marijuana-possession/

Assembly Members Postpone Floor Vote On Bill To Decriminalize Marijuana Possession

Written by The NORML Team on Friday, May 25, 2012

Tell Your Assembly Member to Support AB 1465

On Thursday, May 24, members of the state Assembly delayed a schedule floor vote on Assembly Bill 1465, bi-partisan legislation which reduces criminal penalties for those who possess personal use quantities of marijuana. Members of the state Assembly Judiciary Committee had previously voted unanimously in favor of the measure, sending it to the full Assembly for further action.

Yesterday's postponement is because lawmakers must first deliberate over a series of proposed amendments to the bill. One would direct a portion of the fines collected from violators to be used toward funding drug education programs. Another would steer repeat offenders toward drug counseling.

As introduced, Assembly Bill 1465 removes criminal penalties for the possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana, replacing them with civil penalties punishable by no more than a $150 fine and no criminal record. The proposed law is similar to those of 14 other states that have implemented versions of marijuana decriminalization.

While this delay is disappointing, it is not indicative of a lack of political support or momentum. Please contact your member of the state Assembly in favor of AB 1465 by visiting NORML's Take Action Center here:

http://www.capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=60527546

If you wish to call your member of the Assembly personally, please visit:

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/municipalities.asp

Additional information is available from NORML New Jersey or CMM-NJ.

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

seems fatboy gov is keen on keeping up his "tough on crime republican" thing for his national aspirations. If this fuck runs in 2016 we're screwed.

http://nj1015.com/will-new-jersey-make-legalize-marijuana-chris-christie-says-no-audio/

Will New Jersey Legalize Marijuana? [AUDIO/POLL]
David-Matthau By: David Matthau | 3 days ago

A measure is working its way through the Legislature that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana – but it now seems unlikely that Governor Chris Christie will sign it if it passes.

Speaking at his latest town hall meeting in Piscataway, the Governor said, “I don’t think you will see me sign a bill that legalizes marijuana in this state – and for people who disagree with me that’s fine- you’re welcome to disagree…I’m the Governor and I get to make those calls – when those bills come to my desk, and if that bill comes to my desk – it’s not one that I’m going to sign.”


He told the crowd he would not let the Garden state become like Colorado or California – where medical marijuana laws are so loose, that it’s as if pot were legal.

“There are shops everywhere,” said Christie, “there are fly by night doctors who are writing prescriptions for someone who walks in and says they’ve got some stress from the flight they just took …you’ve got essentially the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and California – I don’t think that’s where we want to go as a state.”

He also said he’s in favor of making treatment mandatory for every non-violent offender charged with drug possession, “but I don’t think that what we should do is increase the number of drugs that we’re making legal…people who are supporters of the legalization of marijuana make a couple of different arguments – I get well alcohol is legal – and I say well okay, my mother told me a long time ago, 2 wrongs don’t make a right…and they say to me you can tax it if you make it legal – and I’m like, I get it, but no thanks – I think I’ll pass on another tax.”

While Christie’s tone was generally negative about marijuana, he did not specifically discuss pending legislation to decriminalize possession of pot in small quantities.

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

so this moved even furtherer on monday, and was passed by the assembly and now moves to the senate.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/25/new-jersey-assembly-appro_n_1626147.html

New Jersey Assembly Approves Marijuana Decriminalization Bill

The Huffington Post | By Greg Rosalsky Posted: 06/26/2012 12:00 pm Updated: 06/26/2012 12:50 pm

Garden State pot smokers have a reason to rejoice, at least temporarily: New Jersey legislators voted on Monday to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. Governor Chris Christie (R), however, has vowed to veto the legislation.

The New Jersey Assembly voted 44-30 to approve a measure (A1465) that would make possession of 15 grams of marijuana or less a minor civil offense similar to a parking ticket. Fines would range from $150 to $500, with mandatory drug education classes for repeat offenders. The current fine for marijuana possession is $1,000 and violators face up to six months in jail.

Even if the bill passes the state senate, Christie's veto threat ensures it's unlikely to become law. "The federal government still says marijuana is an illegal drug," Christie said to a town hall on Friday. "I don’t think we should send any sort tacit approval to our children that somehow this is not bad anymore."

Despite the bill's dim prospects, there's ample evidence that public opinion on marijuana legalization is shifting nationally. Last month, a Rasmussen poll found 56 percent of Americans approve of legalizing marijuana and having it regulated like tobacco and alcohol.

christie is a fat dirtbag who has held up the medical process here, and now wants to veto this. He says its "for the kids" of course, but the real reason is because he backed a mandatory drug treatment program that conflicts with this. He has lots of friends running treatment programs, and is trying to protect them. Like he has done with the halfway houses in NJ (striking parts of a bill calling for regular oversight reports) like I said, dirtbag.

hopefully some more momentum gets behind this.

could make for a better summer.

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

.

 

[The Sensi Rebel]

Sounds like he needs a punch to the dick.

 

[stc9357]

Keep me abreast!

 

[Iron_Lion]

I seen fat bastard on tv the other day day saying it's never going to happen.

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

here's a great to the point DAILY SHOW segment showing fatboys hypocrisy. He is willing to take on the federal government on sports gambling, but says the feds think weed is bad so we cant disagree. bi-polar much?

[YOUTUBEIF]1j-hRAlreys[/YOUTUBEIF]

i love jon stewart

 

[Tudo]

Anything good happening with this in NJ?