Minnesota Lawmakers Seek to Recriminalize and Stiffen Penalties
March 26th, 2009 by Rick
It seems as if the representatives of local, state and federal government love to take one step forward and two steps back. Right after the news of a policy shift of the federal government towards the state governments regarding their medical marijuana state laws, a bill is being offered by Sen. Juliane Ortman, R-Chanhassen, and Rep. Dave Olin, DFL-Thief River Falls that seeks to recriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana and increase penalties for possession of large amounts of marijuana and possession of marijuana plants in Minnesota.
Minnesota decriminalized “small amounts” of marijuana in 1976, making the punishment for possession on par with a traffic violation. Under HF1596 and SF1683, a “small amount” would mean 14 grams instead of 42.5 grams. More than 14 grams but less than 42.5 grams would constitute a misdemeanor crime under the new bill. The article claimed that “Fourteen grams is the amount contained in a typical $20 bag of marijuana”. I don’t know where they are getting their prices from (probably from 1976) but a half of an ounce does not sell for $20 – not at street prices, anywhere.
I can understand why they want to lower the amount you can possess. 42.5 grams is a half an ounce shy of two ounces. This amount can easily be trafficked and most drug traffickers can take an ounce and still make money from it. That’s the point of it all, the money. There is a demand for it therefore the supply is created. The dealers will continue doing this until they don’t make money from it anymore. If it was legalized, regulated, taxed and people were educated about it then they could cultivate their own or go out and buy it from legitimate commercial retailers.
That’s how you solve the problem to make the violence and the seediness of it go away. If you criminalize it then the only thing you will wind up with is more traffickers on the street and in our prison systems. When one falls there is another who will gladly take their place.
Until our representatives learn that the three black market industries (pot, porn, and immigrants) generate a size-able amount of revenue and will always be around as long as laws are continuing to be created that keep those industries on the black market, then we will always just be chasing our tails.
Federal Heights Reduces Marijuana Penalties
January 7th, 2009 by Perry
In Colorado, penalties for possessing pot in certain areas just got a little more affordable.
The city council in Federal Heights recently dropped the fine from $1,000 to $500. Most cities in Colorado only have a fine of $100, which was one of the reasons used to justify the reduction.
Mayor Joyce Thomas said it was an initiative to move city law closer to state law.
