A Vermont representative unveiled new data yesterday showing that the Green Mountain state spends more than $700,000 annually to prosecute small-time marijuana offenders.
Calling such expenditures wasteful and ineffective, Rep. Jason P. Lorber (D-Burlington) said he plans to introduce legislation that would decriminalize the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana, meaning it would no longer be a criminal misdemeanor requiring prosecution, but rather a civil infraction similar to a parking ticket. Under Vermont’s current law, the maximum penalty for possession of up to two ounces of marijuana is 6 months in prison and a $500 fine.
Thirteen other states have decriminalized marijuana possession in some form or another, and a 2009 Mason-Dixon poll showed that Vermont voters support decriminalization by more than a 2-1 margin.
Earlier this year, MPP backed Democrat Peter Shumlin in his successful bid for governor largely because of his vocal support for decriminalizing marijuana. Once he enters office next year, Vermont will be well positioned to pass this sensible legislation.
They Should Legalize It Here In Vermont, Then Take The Money They Save And Put It Towards The State, Like Roads,Education,Helth,Homeless, and so much more!!!
I hope the DEA will respect that, which I’ve doubt they would.
I’m surprised it is only $700,000. As a former police officer, I can tell you one good arrest basically made your day, and you stretched it out for as long as you could. The opportunity cost is phenomenal, because then you spend an entire day doing absolutely no preventive policing. I used to check hundreds of doors of local businesses each night – quite boring, but both a good deterrent to the thieves that are smart enough not to want to get caught, and a way to find a break-in long before 9 AM when the business owner showed up and found it him/herself.
This was very boring work, but guess what! One good arrest and the door checks never got done!
The same logic applies for other police activities. An officer who is on the street talking to people is deterring crime, or investigating previous crimes. An officer who is processing a marijuana arrest is not, s/he is just wasting his/her time, and our money.
I know these states feel better taking baby steps but why delay go ahead and just legalize it all together and get on with it already.Make it legal to grow it and eat it like salad if you want to.We should not have to pay taxes on it.The government should be ordering us to plant it in mass as a matter of national sustainability and stability .Think of all the jobs it would create we could start making real canvas tarps and paper,fuel and medicine.It could actually belong to the people as it should .It was never intended to be owned by any one .It belongs to the TAO.
I would like to comment to Rick Stewart (#3).
I think police Officer’s is sometimes the noblist People on the planet. (Some of them are) The reality of it is that there are Punk’s with badges that tarnish the rest of you. I believe that there are forces (Policical) that wants to maintain a rift between Law enforcement and the community for reason’s that they only know (To witch I would guess, that it’s because of loyalty going to you rather that to the Fed’s, and Vice versa). The fact is because of the Law (Witch Police Officer’s don’t have a Choice but to enforce) trust can’t be maintained. When the law changes, and it will change you will find that there will be a start on healing the relationship between us and Law enforcement. When the laws are based on Common Sense and not on lies and Obvious greed you will see that there will be a change in our relationship. I know a lot of Police officers that are the Poster people of Professionalism that I find VERY comforting, I can’t wait when I can sit with one of these People and just have coffee with them with out haveing to feel afraid.
700,000 dollers aint shit compared to the billions we would save with legalization. And Vermont is a small state. The private industry will put big business out of work if cannabis does become legal. I mean cotten, textile, food,oils, canvas, some composits, prison employees, narkos, and most importantly, killings and drug gangs, would take a serious loss of income and would have to grow hemp to stay in business. What in heavens name could be so bad with that? Maybe god gave us hemp and cannabis for reasons that we do not know yet, like what are we going to use after we destroy ourselves with another world war.
There is something I haven’t mentioned that that would explain the corruption and why cocaine is not considered schedule one on the “C.S.A. of 1970″, and also how the DEA knows so much about the drug and how they continue to make a big dramatic show on making a large sophisticated bust. First of all, it is important for the federal government to have a Drug Czar, a chief administrator, and a council of former Drug Czars and former DEA administrators, because it is important for them to follow orders and to know when to turn their heads away from certain powerful public figures for many countless reasons.
That is why the current Drug Czar is being a total sell out and avoids live debates on drug issues. The president of the United States is doing the same thing.
Cocaine is very popular recreational drug among the most highest level of the elite. It is still the most widely use drug that is given to their mistresses or to their lover. Yes, cocaine is very evil because it brings about the fun in being the filthy rich and become the eye of the storm when it comes to corruption.
It takes cocaine to enjoy sin, not marijuana.
So why is marijuana being picked on? There is a long list for that answer. My favorite is to distract and control the public by using various prohibitionist groups and have them to blame.
The sad part is that noble and trustworthy cops have to change to survive. They have to go along and be part of the unit, even if it means being brain washed.
The last paragraph means that cops really do know what is going on but are not at liberty to say anything. Only the spokesperson or the chief can make public statements.
It is just like the military.
I sure like to rewrite that big statement I’ve made. There were four important things I want to mentioned but I was in such a hurry.
Marijuana is not at all like cocaine.
This one group of investors who made cannabis illegal has done more damage to society than we could ever calculate,If I had to look at lives lost and ruined as a result of cannabis prohibition,I would have to include all the deaths of wars that were ever fought to keep the big oil industry in supply of crude oil /energy monopoly.All the deaths of people who died of cancer for which cannabis is a cure ,All those who starved to death in India as a result of cannabis prohibition there .All of the people who have been arrested and their families and friends ,All the people who have been incarcerated and imprisoned.All the people who could have been cured of their diseases had cannabis been legal and available.This is just social damage .Imagine the damage done to our environment stock piling spent fuel,oil slicks, chemical sludge spills, , acid rain, pesticides, DDT probably killed off a lot of species of wildlife and birds.FISH kills from chemical farming run off.Worst to come were Pharmacy ‘s involvement in eugenics programs with intentions of population control.Never has it ever been so obvious that the people who made cannabis illegal knew it could heal, feed ,fuel, and provide what ever a society needed to survive and they made it illegal with the intention of monopolizing industries which were in direct competition with all the things hemp had provided freely for every one who wished to raise it.I don’t think we should have to beg for it at this point nor limit it to regulation on their behalf .
Sandy, I love the way you think and rationalize your viewpoint about cannabis! I totally agree with your argument. It is too bad that many American citizens are foolishly brainwashed and mentally stripped of their capacity to recognize right from wrong. We need more people to think like you and I in order for change to occur. I believe that most Americans are fair minded, intelligent people who know what is RIGHT. They know that Cannabis is a God given blessing to this earth. Many of them, however, are afraid of Government and big business. Consequently, they are afraid to exercise their democratic right and support legalization. Instead, they choose to agree with the status quo and support an illogical, contradictory argument that has the ability to destroy our American democracy and enhance global warming. Good job, Sandy!
Sandy. I have been telling people that exact same thing for years. It is big industry and crooked elected officials that keep cannabis illegal. Not untill we vote out each and every crook and start from scratch will we ever get our freedom to use and grow cannabis and hemp. Willie Nelson has started a Tea Pot Party and that might be our ticket to freedom. Oh, and just last week another two drug co,s were fined millions for pushing bad drugs that either hurt or killed people. Free the weed and you free the people.
Ironically enough, what they will save in health care costs giving the public access to legal cannabis will probably astound them.Not to get off topic but scholars are researching the whole idea that some of the healing that Jesus did was done by(drenching) anointing people in cannabis oil,because it has the potential to absorb through the skin.I would think this a wonderful option to surgery or chemical or radiation.Now all we need is a miracle of compassion,from those who persist in keeping this plant from its rightful purpose and use. Legally, it is a plant, It should belong and be used by all freely ,and monopolized by no one.
We in Kansas will attempt to pass legislation this next year but I don’t think we can get our legislator to act upon the Will of Kansas Citizens, they don’t care about the people anywhere. So in the end we will have to educate our Kansas Jurys to Nullify the Cannabis Laws to force change upon this wayward government. It would be great if groups like MPP, NORML, and MedCanKan could stand with us citizens and help teach people how they have control and can bring change to our government without a vote, without debating but by acting from the Jury Box and by a Jury of Our Peers we can bring change and protect our fellow citizens from this government fraud placed illegally upon us. Time for us to act as a united force and stand up for ourselves and our peers facing the tyrants of government. Time to shut down this unwarranted, unwanted, harmful behavior of these government employees. We the People have it in our means, will you folks stand with us?, help us educate our citizens into our liberty and freedom? We the people need these outlets to help us and others alike to direct our just cause and force the wayward government to yield to the Will of the people. Teach Jury Nullification and take back our courts. We can rule from the Jury Box! Checkmate this Government and end the ill game they are playing! This is not a stalemate, it our checkmate move. have you folks had enough, then make the move and checkmate this foolish government in their tracks.
Stomped ,This is such a wonderful option …It never occurred to me this was even a possibility and I am so grateful to finally see where a public dose have an opportunity to oppose unfair laws,and yes educating the public is going to be very important.For so long we have heard the bad things about it now its time to hear the good.
I can hear people speaking up in court rooms all across America,explaining to the judge that they do not agree with putting non violent people in jail for a non toxic,non lethal,non addictive,medicinal herb.This has gone on too long.It is wrong and it ruins innocent peoples lives. Sir ,we believe the punishment is far too grate for the crime.