Rhode Island Senate Joins House in Passing Marijuana Decriminalization Bill, 28-6

The Marijuana Policy Project as well as Law Enforcement Against Prohibition's Tom Angell report that the Rhode Island Senate just passed its version of the marijuana deciminalization bill, 28-6. From the MPP: 

Earlier this evening, June 5, 2012, the Rhode Island General Assembly overwhelming approved twin bills that would – for most offenses – remove the threat of jail time for the simple possession of marijuana. The companion bills – S2253/H7092 – would replace the current criminal charge for simple possession – up to a year in jail and/or up to a $500 fine – with a $150 civil offense.

Individuals under the age of 18 would be subject to the same civil violation and would also be required to attend a drug education course as well as perform community service. A third marijuana possession offense within 18 months could result in a misdemeanor conviction punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $500. The twin bills must now each get a vote in the other legislative chamber. Then, they will go to Gov. Lincoln Chafee to sign into law, veto, or allow to become law without his signature.

Angell sent this statement: 

The overwhelming vote tonight shows just how mainstream marijuana reform has become. Clearly more and more politicians are realizing that supporting marijuana reform is smart politics -- just the opposite of the third rail it was viewed as just a few short years ago. Andrew Cuomo, who is widely expected to run for president in 2016, gets it. Will Obama get the picture in time?

Comments

[Heroic Mulatto]

Snoop Dogg joins the celebrations for R.I.'s decriminalization bill.

[Bill]

That's fine, but now we REALLY need to crack down on bath salts and fake pot. ZOMBIES!!

[db]

I think you're on to something here. The Drug War can continue as long as there are "unsafe" synthetics and TEH HEROOOOINN available.

[shamalam]

Now if Colorado legalizes the ball will be rolling.

[shamalam]

Put a comma in there if you need one.

[Duncan20903]

apostrophes too, they're the crux of the biscuit you know.

"Now if Colorado legalizes the ball, we'll be rolling!"

I've heard it called muggles, reefer, spinach, weed, cannabis, marijuana, marihuana, mariguana, mary jane, mary warner, the bomb, 420, the kind, the assassin of youth, skunk, sinse, sinsemilla, atom bomb, grass, pakalolo, pakaloco, yellow submarine, the white haired lady, doobie, wacky weed, wacky tobaccy, joy smoke, dona juana, sativa, indica, herb, gunjah, ganja, charas, cheeba, green goddess, jive stick, the jolly green, kate bush, kief, laughing grass, laughing weed, Juan Valdez, O.J., mutha, krippy, just to name a few. I don't have a clue why, but I've even heard people call it dope. But I swear I've never heard it called "the ball" before this morning. I guess you really do learn something new every day (whether you like it or not.)