Pubdate: Thu, 27 Mar 2008
Source: Rochester Times (NH)
Copyright: 2008 Geo. J. Foster Company
Contact:  http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=ROCNEWS
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4729
Author: Adam D. Krauss
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Note: Rochester Times editor John Nolan contributed to this story

LESSER POT PENALTY VOTE CREATES STORM

ROCHESTER - A vocal government watchdog is urging the mayor to consider 
seeking the resignation of two School Board members who, as state 
legislators, voted to decriminalize marijuana.

But Mayor John Larochelle isn't eager to take that road.

"I'd like to hear why they voted that way" instead of "being reactive and 
asking for their resignation," he said.

In one of two emails fired off to Larochelle and the City Council on 
Monday, Fred Leonard said the mayor should stand up for students and "rid 
our school leadership" of Bill Brennan and Pamela Hubbard because they 
lacked "good judgment." The legislators voted last week in favor of House 
Bill 1623, while School Board Chair Bob Watson, also a Democratic 
representative, voted against the proposal.

The city delegation, absent one member not voting, split 5-2 in favor of 
the measure. The proposal would make possession of one-quarter ounce or 
less of marijuana a violation punishable by a $200 fine. Under current law, 
possessing that amount is a misdemeanor that carries a $2,000 fine and 
could land someone in jail for a year.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where chances of passage appear slim, and 
Gov. John Lynch has said he would veto it if it got to his desk. Hubbard, a 
retired teacher, said she stands by her vote.

"To have that on a young person's record, or to make it impossible for him 
or her to apply and get any sort of federal money for college, seems like a 
penalty that is far greater than the crime," she said, stressing the bill 
would not legalize the drug.

"In no way does it imply I condone the use of drugs," Hubbard added.

Leonard, who ran for School Board last year, and who has two teenage sons 
in the school district, said Brennan and Hubbard sent a "terrible message" 
- - that "it's OK if you have a small amount of pot."

That stands in contrast with the school district's zero-tolerance policy on 
drugs, he said.

First-time student offenders in possession of an illegal drug are 
suspended, with the ability to attend the teen drug court, and a second 
offense carries expulsion, Hubbard said.

The proposal's supporters said young people caught with a small quantity of 
the drug should not lose the chance for college aid and other government 
assistance.

But Leonard said decriminalizing would create a loophole for people who get 
caught but escape having the offense on their record and then go to work in 
a school.

"We can have drug abusers within reach of our children," he said.

Larochelle said he's concerned with the fallout for someone caught 
possessing a small amount of a drug. He said the repercussions could lead 
to more drug use if the person, with a criminal record, is thrown off a 
career track.

"It might be that this vote is a very good way to start a dialogue of what 
works for fighting drugs," Larochelle said. "This idea of decriminalizing 
might not be a bad idea."

Brennan, reached by phone on Tuesday evening, said his rationale for voting 
to support the misdemeanor classification was that he did not wish to give 
young people a criminal record for possessing less than a quarter of an 
ounce of marijuana.

"They would be ineligible for any federal help for college. No way do I 
support the use of marijuana, but the penalty should fit the crime," said 
Brennan.

Leonard's emails followed news Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta called for the 
resignation of his city's school district spokesman who, as a member of the 
House, also voted for the bill, which passed 193-141.

Leonard said he requested Larochelle looks into the votes because he's the 
the city's chief representative.

(Rochester Times editor John Nolan contributed to this story. For more on 
this topic, please turn to Page A6 for Letters to the Editor, Roll Call 
Round Up and The Rochester Times editorial.)
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D