Pubdate: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 Source: Washington Times (DC) Copyright: 2014 Associated Press Contact: http://www.washingtontimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492 COMMITTEE APPROVES MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION (AP) - The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Friday approved a measure relegating marijuana possession to a civil offense. The committee has not voted on a proposal to eliminate all penalties for possessing marijuana in small amounts, as Colorado and Washington have done. Police chiefs have objected to the bill on the grounds that officers sometimes use the smell of marijuana as a pretext for stopping drivers and searching their vehicles, and sometimes they find weapons and huge amounts of drugs. Sen. Robert A. Zirkin, Baltimore County Democrat who introduced the bill, noted that possessing more than 10 ounces would remain a crime - - meaning it would remain a valid pretext for traffic stops. Parallel bills are pending in the House Judiciary Committee. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom