Pubdate: Fri, 22 Feb 2013
Source: Daily Local, The (PA)
Copyright: 2013 Daily Local News - a Journal Register Property
Contact:  http://www.dailylocal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4704

ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION SHOULD BE PURSUED IN MARIJUANA DEBATE

Can we consider whether there is an alternative to the legislation 
that would legalize marijuana for use by adults that would take into 
account the danger of allowing people to abuse this still 
misunderstood drug? We hope so.

As anticipated, state Sen. Daylin Leach (D-17th), who represents 
parts of Montgomery County, has unveiled a bill he calls the 
"Regulate Marijuana Act." Under the proposed legislation, it would no 
longer be illegal for a person age 21 or older to possess, grow, 
process or transport up to six marijuana plants (with three or fewer 
being mature, flowering plants) and possess the marijuana produced by 
those plants, under certain conditions. The bill would establish a 
system of lawful marijuana cultivation, harvesting, processing, 
testing, and retail sales facilities to be overseen by the 
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

We understand many of the arguments in favor of legalization - that 
it would stop the drain on our resources created by sending otherwise 
law-abiding people to jail; that marijuana is not as harmful as it 
has been historically portrayed; and that legalizing it would allow 
revenue to come from its taxation. But we also believe that there is 
much that is still not completely understood about the harm that the 
drug may cause, especially for young male repeat users, who have been 
found to suffer mental health issues tied to their use.

The bill sets a timetable of no later than July 1, 2014 for the PLCB 
to adopt the regulations necessary for the establishment of 
marijuana-related facilities, and Oct. 1, 2014 to begin accepting and 
processing applications for annual licenses to operate such facilities.

The bill does not address any legal issues involving individuals who 
have already been charged with violating the marijuana laws that 
would be eliminated by the passage of Leach's proposed legislation.

Leach has acknowledged he faces an uphill battle in the Senate to see 
his bill become law. Gov. Tom Corbett has been vocal in the past 
about his objections to any marijuana legalization efforts in Pennsylvania.

In November, Colorado and Washington state passed historic marijuana 
legalization laws similar to Leach's bill. Efforts to legalize 
marijuana for recreational purposes are also currently under way in 
Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island and Hawaii.

Perhaps a legal atmosphere exists that accepts that possession of 
personal use marijuana should not be criminalized, and that only 
large-scale drug operations would be targeted for prosecution or 
arrest by law enforcement. But we remain wary of throwing open the 
gates to legalization, no matter the financial aspects of such a move.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom