Pubdate: Fri, 28 Mar 2014
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2014 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Author: Amy Worden
Page: B5
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

PA. STATE SENATOR PROPOSES BILLS TO EASE MARIJUANA LAWS

A Philadelphia lawmaker wants to relax the penalties for possessing
small amounts of marijuana.

Sen. Mike Stack, a Democrat and a candidate for lieutenant governor,
is introducing bills to lower penalties for having an ounce or less of
pot and to expunge first-time offenders' records after five years.

"Beyond the financial cost, our antiquated marijuana laws clog our
criminal justice system and consume time that can be better spent
arresting and prosecuting violent criminals," Stack said Wednesday.
"Over the past 20 years, the number of marijuana arrests has exploded,
but the price of marijuana has dropped, and the availability and
potency have increased."

He also raised the issue of racial disparity, noting African Americans
are five times as likely to be arrested for pot smoking as whites.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware)
suggested the bills were not likely to move, noting the legislature
had passed a package of justice bills. "I don't anticipate additional
action which would deal only with a narrow subset of nonviolent
offenders," spokesman Erik Arneson said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt