Thursday, February 14
MONTPELIER (AP) — The Vermont Senate on Wednesday voted to scrap jail terms for first- or second-time offenders caught with up to an ounce of marijuana, giving initial approval to a bill that would give those people fines or send them to court diversion.

Debate on whether to give the bill initial approval — which the Senate ended up doing on a 22-7 roll call vote — prompted a wide-ranging discussion of marijuana policy, about the message the legislation would send to young people, and about whether laws against marijuana were causing more harm than the drug itself.
Sen. Dick McCormack, D-Windsor, introduced his comments on the topic with a bit of humor.
"I'm not so naive as to think that marijuana is a completely harmless drug," he said. "It's responsible for some of the worst poetry ever written. And as a musician, I can tell you it wreaks havoc on the drummer's ability to keep the tempo." But he added, "The harm that is done to actual people's lives because they're pot smokers is not done by pot-smoking. The harm that comes to people's lives because they're pot smokers comes from the state. The problems in their lives do not come from
lighting up a joint. It comes from getting caught."

Critics of the bill said it would send the wrong message at a time when the state is grappling with a growing problem with use and abuse of harder drugs.
Sen. Hull Maynard, R-Rutland, noted that his home county, and Rutland City in particular, had been plagued by a recent spate of drug-related violence and other crime.
"I feel that we would be better off not passing anything on this subject right now," Maynard said. He urged that the state "try to get down to the business and clear up a problem that may be worse in Rutland County than other places and may not."
Current Vermont law calls for those caught with up to two ounces of marijuana to be given up to six months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.
The bill before the Senate Wednesday would give those caught with up to one ounce a choice: They could either pay a $500 fine — $750 on a second offense — and have a criminal record, or they could go to a court diversion program, which would result in no criminal record but likely would require counseling and community service.
An initial version of the bill would have decriminalized possession or sale of up to four ounces, but the Senat

e Judiciary Committee scaled that back, said its chairman, Sen. Richard Sears, D-Bennington. "No one is condoning the use of marijuana, and it's offensive to suggest that anyone is," Sears said.

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"I suppose I always knew America would eventually break the planet, like some ghastly, hyperactive toddler that gets hold of a mobile phone and then smashes it repeatedly against the edge of a table". Quote from british journalist.

From the article:

"Critics of the bill said it would send the wrong message ..."

Right, like the Totalitarian State arresting people and throwing them in jail for years for possessing a small amount of a simple medicinal herb is sending the "right" message?

Vi

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Damned right I'm an equal opportunity offender, I'm a Conservative!

i think more and more that the norm in America is to never admit a mistake. that is the "wrong message" they must be talking about. since it is proven harmless, non-addictive and medically valuable there can't be any other message.





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"But even when you cease to be slaves, you are yet far removed from being placed on an equality with the white race."

- Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, Hero to the servants of big government, Racist War Monger

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"I suppose I always knew America would eventually break the planet, like some ghastly, hyperactive toddler that gets hold of a mobile phone and then smashes it repeatedly against the edge of a table". Quote from british journalist.

Yes..Why dont they just Let everyone grow marijuana..I think growing should be legal because that way no body is buyin it off the streets..plus i heard that marijuana plants give off more oxygen then trees..

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"I suppose I always knew America would eventually break the planet, like some ghastly, hyperactive toddler that gets hold of a mobile phone and then smashes it repeatedly against the edge of a table". Quote from british journalist.

vt will be the first state to aprove farming hemp we are all ready on the fast track