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