Legislature Reviewing Marijuana Policy

A newly formed committee to discuss the effects of Rhode Island law governing marijuana possession met Wed., Nov 24. The big question – should Rhode Island decriminalize marijuana?
The committee will be presenting recommendations to lawmakers in Jan. 2010. It was formed after the Legislature voted last summer to explore how much Rhode Island might collect in state revenue if it were to make the sale of marijuana legal and impose a “sin tax” of $35 per ounce.
The committee consists of a medical doctor who described himself, according to the Providence Journal, as being skeptical as to the effectiveness of excessive enforcement and the value of prohibition, the head of the Rhode Island State Nurses Association, a Harvard University lecturer who in 2005 authored a paper predicting millions of dollars in budget savings and potential new tax revenue if a legalization approach for marijuana was adopted, a criminal defense attorney, a retired court administrator and a prison-rights activist. Chairing the committee is Sen. Joshua Miller (D-District 28, Cranston, Warwick) who described himself as being “open-minded,” while conscious of what his colleagues are likely to “take serious.”
Several nearby states have recently decriminalized marijuana. Massachusetts became the thirteenth state to decriminalize the drug at the end of last year, with possession of any amount under one ounce considered a civil offense. After the state’s recent adoption of medical marijuana policies this summer, and judging from the makeup of the commission, it seems they may recommend a decriminalization or legalization policy.  
One of the principle arguments for decriminalization of marijuana is that court, administrative and enforcement of prohibition costs would be lowered, thus improving the state budget and freeing up police resources.
 “I don’t think any legislation is going to be taken seriously unless it can demonstrate a relief of resources, whether they be human or fiscal,” Miller told the Providence Journal. “If legislation related to marijuana can demonstrate that, it will be taken seriously.”

5 comments

John Chase

Fri Dec 4 2009 07:05

If decrim means arresting growers and dealers but not smokers, it will fail because demand will rise but supply will remain constricted. That's what we had in the 1920s when we arrested bootleggers but not drinkers. It increased the price and drew in more violent men to the trade. Anyone who has been exposed to Economics 100 knows about the law of supply and demand.

Take out the profit... and the violence... by putting pot on the same legal plane as beer.

Matthew Garrison

Thu Dec 3 2009 13:21

In my other comment I meant that users are fined and the government steals their cannabis, not that they got caught stealing their cannabis. Sorry about that! I'm not accusing users of stealing their cannabis! Certainly people should be punished for stealing cannabis.

Matthew Garrison

Thu Dec 3 2009 13:18

Decriminalization, meaning imposing fines instead of criminal penalties for marijuana possession is certainly more humane than making it a more serious crime. However, it does retain the predatory role of law enforcement officers, and ends up taxing (in an embarrassing and abusive way) only those consumers who are unlucky enough to get caught while stealing their cannabis. It also leaves the market in the hands of criminal organization. The obvious route to take is to tax every ounce sold and take the market away from criminals. $35 an ounce is a reasonable amount to tax high quality marijuana. Growing a personal supply should be legal and tax free though, as is the case with brewing beer and wine, and home grown tobacco. It would be great to see Rhode Island become a leader in ending the insanity of prohibition.

Angela

Wed Dec 2 2009 21:44

Ditto to what Jeff wrote. Now if Arizona would do the same thing maybe we'd be doing a lot better over here. It's about time government wises up to the truth about cannabis. The plant could literally save this country from ruin.

Jeff

Wed Dec 2 2009 20:37

Way to go, Rhode Island! It's always great to hear about another state awakening to the cruelty and waste of the drug war.

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