Pubdate: Sun, 16 Dec 2012
Source: Sentinel-Record, The (AR)
Copyright: 2012 The Sentinel-Record, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.hotsr.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1539
Note: from the THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LEGALIZING POT: WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES?

(AP) The votes in Washington and Colorado last month legalizing
marijuana were just the latest developments in the debate over
marijuana use in the United States.

Lawmakers and activists in some other states are contemplating their
next moves in regards to marijuana:

DELAWARE: Lawmakers passed a bill last year allowing the use of
medical marijuana obtained from state-licensed "compassion centers,"
but Gov. Jack Markell halted implementation after federal officials
indicated that people involved in cultivating and distributing
marijuana could be subject to civil fines or prosecution. As far as
legalization for recreational purposes, Markell spokeswoman Cathy
Rossi said there are the same concerns about medical marijuana. "That
is, if the federal government is saying it won't pursue persons with a
medical need or recreational users, but it is prosecuting persons who
provide that marijuana in a safe manner, then we are forcing people to
obtain marijuana from the illegal market," she said.

ILLINOIS: Democratic state Rep. Lou Lang has been trying to legalize
medical marijuana, but has no plans to try to go beyond that. Dan
Linn, executive director of Illinois NORML, a group advocating the
legalization of all marijuana use, said at least one lawmaker has
expressed interest in introducing a bill in January. But Linn said
many lawmakers don't want to ruin Lang's chances of getting his bill
passed by pressing for wider use right now.

INDIANA: Key lawmakers from both parties plan to introduce measures
next year that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of the
drug. Democratic state Sen. Karen Tallian says attitudes are changing
among her fellow lawmakers, while Republican Sen. Brent Steele says
the state should focus its strained resources on violent crime rather
than pot smokers.

MINNESOTA: Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton said in a recent interview with
The Associated Press that he doesn't support legalized use either
recreationally or medicinally. He ties his opposition to medical
marijuana to law enforcement's opposition.

MONTANA: Medical marijuana is allowed and a proposal to make the
recreational use of pot a constitutional right has been refiled. The
proposed 2014 constitutional initiative duplicates a proposal put
forward last year that failed to make the ballot because organizers
didn't get enough signatures. Republican state Sen. Jeff Essmann
doesn't believe Montana voters will go the way of Colorado and Washington.

NEBRASKA: Marijuana supporters have tried to legalize it by referendum
but failed to collect enough petition signatures to force a vote.
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has repeatedly expressed opposition to
medical marijuana. Lawmakers briefly considered a bill to legalize
industrial hemp farming, but the legislation died.

NEW MEXICO: The New Mexico Drug Policy Alliance says it will push
lawmakers for a bill next year to legalize marijuana, but it will
likely go nowhere. A legislative review committee has declined to
endorse the proposal and Republican Gov. Susana Martinez is a former
prosecutor who would like to repeal the state's medical marijuana law.

OREGON: Key lawmakers in Oregon have agreed not to try to legalize pot
next year, waiting instead to see what happens in Colorado and
Washington. In the meantime, lawmakers will evaluate the proposals
from activists with an eye on potentially introducing a legalization
measure in 2014.

PENNSYLVANIA: A state senator who sponsored one of two medical-
marijuana bills that died during the just-ended legislative session
said the Colorado and Washington measures will help pave the way for
similar measures in other states. Democratic state Sen. Daylin Leach
compared marijuana legalization efforts to the debate over legalizing
same-sex marriage: once a few states act, it will disprove "all the
horror stories" perpetuated by opponents. Leach said he intends to
resurrect his bill to allow marijuana use for medical purposes and to
sponsor a bill to decriminalize the drug. However, Republican Gov. Tom
Corbett's spokesman, Kevin Harley, said Corbett would veto any bill to
legalize marijuana, even for medical reasons.

RHODE ISLAND: Under a law that takes effect April 1, adults in Rhode
Island caught with an ounce or less of marijuana would face a $ 150
civil fine, and a state representative has said she plans to
reintroduce legislation to legalize marijuana.

VERMONT: Gov. Peter Shumlin and many lawmakers are pushing for
decriminalization, in which those caught with small amounts of
marijuana would be given something akin to a traffic fine rather than
facing a criminal charge. Shumlin has argued that young people caught
with small amounts of the drug should not have their future job
prospects affected by a criminal record. House Speaker Shap Smith has
opposed decriminalization, but this week he said he is willing to have
a debate.

WISCONSIN: Republican Gov. Scott Walker said Friday he's not
interested in legalizing marijuana. The only way he sees it happening
is if state residents approve the idea in a referendum similar to
Colorado and Washington. 
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