Jacob Bell
New Member
No one has any heartburn about putting thieves, molesters, rapists, killers and violent offenders in prison. They deserve to be there.
Regardless of one's convictions about drug use, it seems a waste of taxpayer money to shell out $148.8 million in the Indiana criminal justice system in 2006 to combat marijuana.
That's not to condone pot use, and it's not to advocate repealing all the state's laws pertaining to the substance. Rather, it is to note that Indiana has some of the strictest laws pertaining to possession of marijuana, and it's time to refine the sentences for possession of small amounts.
Indiana lawmakers recently heard testimony about the state's marijuana statutes. This comes after a study released late last year recommended sentencing reforms, including those on marijuana possession, to relieve prison overcrowding and save taxpayers' money.
In Indiana, for example, a person in possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana faces a misdemeanor charge and up to a year of incarceration and a fine not to exceed $5,000, according to norml.org, a website advocating legalization of marijuana.
An ounce, for example, is 28.35 grams.
By comparison, a person in Ohio found in possession of 100 grams or less faces a citation and a fine of $150, according to norml.org. A person found with between 100 and 200 grams of marijuana faces not more than 30 days in jail and fines as high as $250.
A person would have to possess more than 1,000 grams of marijuana in Ohio before he would face any incarceration more than 30 days, according to norml.org
In Nebraska, a person would have to have 1 pound or more of marijuana before he faced incarceration longer than seven days.
During the General Assembly session earlier this year, lawmakers didn't seem motivated to relax Indiana's sentencing laws for possession of marijuana in small quantities.
Some lawmakers dragged out the "soft on crime" label and threatened to pin it to anyone who suggested Indiana might save money by bringing its laws more in line with other states.
Others suggested that marijuana is a gateway drug, and for some, that might be so. But guessing by the generations that have used marijuana, it appears that most abandon it without advancing on to more dangerous drugs.
No one is suggesting legalizing marijuana is right for Indiana, and large quantities of the drug, which indicate dealing, should be taken seriously, as should driving while under the influence of marijuana.
But it's time to decriminalize possession of small amounts. A citation with a fine is sufficient in these cases.
Incarcerating people for possession of a few ounces of pot introduces recreational users to violent offenders, where they learn to become real criminals.
When Hoosier lawmakers return to work in January, it's time they distinguish between those who need to be in prison and those who don't, and petty, recreational dope-smokers do not need to be locked up.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: jconline.com
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: jconline.com
Website: Indiana laws too harsh on pot smokers
Regardless of one's convictions about drug use, it seems a waste of taxpayer money to shell out $148.8 million in the Indiana criminal justice system in 2006 to combat marijuana.
That's not to condone pot use, and it's not to advocate repealing all the state's laws pertaining to the substance. Rather, it is to note that Indiana has some of the strictest laws pertaining to possession of marijuana, and it's time to refine the sentences for possession of small amounts.
Indiana lawmakers recently heard testimony about the state's marijuana statutes. This comes after a study released late last year recommended sentencing reforms, including those on marijuana possession, to relieve prison overcrowding and save taxpayers' money.
In Indiana, for example, a person in possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana faces a misdemeanor charge and up to a year of incarceration and a fine not to exceed $5,000, according to norml.org, a website advocating legalization of marijuana.
An ounce, for example, is 28.35 grams.
By comparison, a person in Ohio found in possession of 100 grams or less faces a citation and a fine of $150, according to norml.org. A person found with between 100 and 200 grams of marijuana faces not more than 30 days in jail and fines as high as $250.
A person would have to possess more than 1,000 grams of marijuana in Ohio before he would face any incarceration more than 30 days, according to norml.org
In Nebraska, a person would have to have 1 pound or more of marijuana before he faced incarceration longer than seven days.
During the General Assembly session earlier this year, lawmakers didn't seem motivated to relax Indiana's sentencing laws for possession of marijuana in small quantities.
Some lawmakers dragged out the "soft on crime" label and threatened to pin it to anyone who suggested Indiana might save money by bringing its laws more in line with other states.
Others suggested that marijuana is a gateway drug, and for some, that might be so. But guessing by the generations that have used marijuana, it appears that most abandon it without advancing on to more dangerous drugs.
No one is suggesting legalizing marijuana is right for Indiana, and large quantities of the drug, which indicate dealing, should be taken seriously, as should driving while under the influence of marijuana.
But it's time to decriminalize possession of small amounts. A citation with a fine is sufficient in these cases.
Incarcerating people for possession of a few ounces of pot introduces recreational users to violent offenders, where they learn to become real criminals.
When Hoosier lawmakers return to work in January, it's time they distinguish between those who need to be in prison and those who don't, and petty, recreational dope-smokers do not need to be locked up.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: jconline.com
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: jconline.com
Website: Indiana laws too harsh on pot smokers
