Pubdate: Tue, 20 Nov 2012
Source: Ottumwa Courier, The (IA)
Copyright: 2012 Ottumwa Courier
Contact:  http://www.ottumwacourier.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3687

TWO MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILLS HEADING TO IOWA LEGISLATURE

Colorado and Washington Bills Gains Attention

DES MOINES ( AP) - Bills that would decriminalize marijuana and
approve its medical use may be headed for the Iowa Legislature after
voters in Colorado and Washington decided that adults should be
allowed to possess small amounts of taxed and regulated pot for
recreational use.

Iowa state Rep. Bruce Hunter, D- Des Moines, is preparing a bill that
would decriminalize pot possession as long as those caught with it
weren't selling it, he told The Des Moines Register.

Hunter also said he'll reintroduce a medical marijuana bill and state
Sen. Joe Bolkcom told the newspaper he'll be seeking co-sponsors for
his medical marijuana measure.

Both measures likely will face tough opposition in the next session,
which begins in January.

An aide to House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, Josie Albrecht, said that "as
with past efforts to legalize marijuana, House Republicans are
unlikely to support the measure and do not believe it is a priority."

Gov. Terry Branstad has said he'll veto any bill that would legalize
marijuana in any capacity.

Nonetheless, Steve Morrow, president of the Iowa chapter of the
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said the
success of the Colorado and Washington measures is "helping the cause."

Legislators who risk voters' wrath for advocating reform of pot laws
now have the new Colorado and Washington laws to wield in defense,
Morrow said.

They could use help, said Bolkcom, City.

"They're nervous about a vote somehow being used against them when
they run for re-election," Bolkcom said. "I think Iowans are ahead of
their elected officials on this issue."

Iowa has been tough on marijuana users. Possession of any amount is a
misdemeanor that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of six months in
jail and/ or a fine of up to $ 1,000.

Hunter said he'd like to legalize marijuana completely and relieve its
burden on the state's justice system.

"We've got a prison population that is made up of a lot of people that
haven't really committed a violent crime, other than smoking some
marijuana," Hunter said. "It doesn't do anybody any good. the DIowa
We're not fixing a drug problem by sending people to jail with a bunch
of other drug problems."

But Peter Komendowski, president of Partnership for a DrugFree Iowa,
said decriminalizing and legalizing marijuana makes it tougher to
protect children from the dangers of drug use.

"What we're doing is sending a mixed message to our kids that some
drugs are OK and some aren't OK," Komendowski said. "If you know kids,
it's extremely confusing to them if you're not on message."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt