HARTFORD - State lawmakers are, once again, talking about marijuana. Two years ago, a bill that would have allowed for the medical use of marijuana was passed by the General Assembly, but vetoed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell. The topic has resurfaced this year. Rep. Mary M. Mushinsky, D-Wallingford, submitted a bill that would legalize medical use of marijuana. Rep. Penny Bacchiochi, R-Somers, did the same. Mushinsky's bill was drafted because of a constituent request. "That's what happens when you go door-knocking," she said, adding that she supports medical marijuana use if it is regulated. [continues 725 words]
The question is not whether someone caught with a small amount of marijuana should be arrested and categorized as a criminal or just given a $100 civil fine [Page 1, Jan. 26, "Weedonomics"]. It's whether it's logical for our society to allow the wide use of other social drugs such as alcohol and nicotine and not allow the legal use of marijuana. When you look at the biggest negative side effects of both alcohol and tobacco use, such as lost productivity and added health care costs, the side effects from marijuana use would be no different. [continues 84 words]
A proposal to decriminalize marijuana in Connecticut is not catching fire with local legislators. State Sen. Bob Duff, D-25, along with state Rep. Lawrence Cafero, R-142, House minority leader, and state Rep. Bruce Morris, D-140, said the detrimental effects of decriminalizing marijuana would outweigh the benefits. "This is always a more complicated issue than just decriminalizing marijuana," said Duff. "We have to think about if it's the best thing to do for our families and our children, and all that needs to be weighed against the alleged benefits of decriminalizing marijuana." [continues 297 words]
By Mary E. O'Leary, Register Topics Editor Taking a cue from Massachusetts, top state legislators are pushing a bill to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana as a way to save law enforcement and court costs. The proposal by state Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, and state Sen. Toni N. Harp, D-New Haven, chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, would change the penalty for possession of an ounce or less of pot to an infraction, rather than an unclassified misdemeanor. [continues 516 words]
A new administration has been inaugurated into the corridors of power. A new cadre of public health elite has been, or soon will be, installed. So perhaps there is a new opportunity to embrace the rationality and first principles too long absent from public health policy. The meaning of rationality is perhaps self-evident. In essence, it means decisions and actions make sense. If, for instance, evidence shows that sex education and the availability of barrier contraception can reduce unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections without encouraging sexual activity, and these are socially desirable -- then policies that advance these objectives are rational. Policies that impede them are, arguably, not. [continues 788 words]
TORRINGTON - For the first time in several years, students at Torrington Middle School will receive instruction from the DARE Program. The Torrington Police Department will begin teaching the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program today, at 10:30 a.m., at the Torrington Middle School. Officer Gregory Wityak, who is certified in both grammar and middle school programs, will be the instructor for the eight week duration. This is the first time in 10 years that DARE instruction will be available for middle school students, after the program was cut due to staffing issues, said Officer Richard Dowd, director of the program. DARE is funded mainly by grants and asset forfeiture money from cars or houses that are seized by police, he said. [continues 238 words]
Two prominent lawmakers pushing for reform of the state's marijuana laws have a potent new ally: the budget deficit. Sen. Toni Harp, chairwoman of the powerful appropriations committee, and Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney hope economics will succeed where other arguments have failed in convincing their colleagues that the costs of prosecuting and punishing pot smokers is an expense Connecticut can no longer afford. "We've got to take a strong look at what we want to pay for as a state," said Harp, D- New Haven, who with Looney is co-sponsoring a bill that would punish low-level marijuana users with a fine, not a criminal charge. [continues 837 words]
Fight Joined to Stem Youthful Opiod Abuse The terrible and tragic wave of Connecticut teens and young adults dying from heroin and abuse of prescription drugs reveals a fundamental truth about drug abuse. Addiction has no boundaries or borders ... Bridgeport, East Haddam, Glastonbury, Hartford, New Haven, Newtown, Ridgefield and Southington. And it can be deadly. Overdoses have claimed at least eight lives of high school and college-age students in communities large and small during the past year. Cheerleader, honor roll student, camp counselor, athlete -- youngsters just like those in your family or neighborhood. [continues 583 words]
Before you venture into Ciudad Juarez, brace yourself to hear Texans tell you that you're crazy. Visiting friends in neighboring El Paso a few days before Christmas, I was immediately warned, "Don't even think about going into Juarez." Just across a shallow creek, known as the Rio Grande, from El Paso, one of the safest cities of its size in the nation, Juarez is under siege, the worst victim of Mexico's growing wars between drug cartels. The tragedy is etched in daily headlines. The day I arrived, two Mexican police offers were ambushed, shot to death while sitting in their patrol car. Just another bloody day in Juarez. [continues 634 words]
I agree completely with your argument for re-legalizing pot, but it does not go far enough to solve the problems created by prohibition. All drugs must be regulated in quality and age controlled markets to eliminate the violent criminal black markets that hurt us all. Only then can we restore personal responsibility, and those of us that don't use drugs can regain our rights to live in a relatively crime-free society. David Lane Santa Cruz, Calif [end]
Regarding your Jan. 2 editorial, there is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting children from drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of marijuana and frees users from the stigma of life-shattering criminal records. What's really needed is a regulated market with age controls. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized crime, consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like heroin. This "gateway" is the direct result of a fundamentally flawed policy. [continues 82 words]
Your editors almost got it right. The marijuana laws were based on racism, ignorance, and nonsense from the very beginning. Every major study of drug laws from around the world over the last 100 years agrees that marijuana prohibition does more harm than good. You got that right. However, keeping sales illegal simply means that organized crime will have a monopoly on a multi-billion dollar market. There are really only two choices for sales of marijuana. Either the Mexican drug lords get tens of billions of dollars per year, or that money could go to law-abiding American citizens. It is the same choice we had with beer -- Al Capone or Anheuser-Busch. [continues 157 words]
To the editor: Regarding your Jan 2 editorial: There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting children from drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of marijuana and frees users from the stigma of criminal records. What's really needed is a regulated market with age controls. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized crime, consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like heroin. [continues 87 words]
On Wednesday, a local man was arrested, police said, with 11 pounds of marijuana and $17,000 in cash in his possession. The amount of pot and money does suggest an intent to distribute, but a distinction should be made between those who sell weed, and those who use it for medical, or even personal use. Possessing small amounts of marijuana should not be a crime in and of itself. More and more states are decriminalizing marijuana for medical and personal use and Connecticut should do the same. [continues 178 words]
On Nov. 4, our neighbors to the north voted to criminalize small amounts of marijuana. As of Friday, anyone in Massachusetts caught with an ounce or less would be issued a $100 ticket and would forfeit the pot. Those younger than 18 who are found to have less than an ounce of the drug must also complete a drug-awareness program within one year. Marijuana is not physically addictive and has been used for centuries without any serious deleterious effect. Overuse can cause problems, like anything else but, used responsibly, marijuana is benign, even more so than alcohol. [continues 244 words]
On Nov. 4, our neighbors to the north voted to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. As of Friday, anyone in Massachusetts caught with an ounce or less would be issued a $100 ticket and would forfeit the pot. Those younger than 18 who are found to have less than an ounce of the drug must also complete a drug-awareness program within one year. Marijuana is not physically addictive and has been used for centuries without any serious deleterious effect. Overuse can cause problems, like anything else but, used responsibly, marijuana is benign, even more so than alcohol. [continues 244 words]
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