Christine Green
New Member
Concord - House and Senate negotiators have agreed on Senate Bill 498 that would lower the penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana, but that supporters of decriminalizing the offense say is a step sideways.
Meeting briefly on Tuesday morning negotiators quickly agreed to the Senate version of the bill, which reduces first-time possession from a Class A offense to an unspecified misdemeanor. Senate supporters say it will give prosecutors and judges more discretion.
The House approved two bills this session to ensure a first-time marijuana offender does not have a criminal record that follows him or her for a lifetime.
The final version of the House bill would have made possession of less than one-quarter ounce of marijuana a violation similar to a speeding ticket.
House proponents say their version would bring New Hampshire in line with the other New England states.
The Senate did agree to lower the fine from $500 to $350 for the first offense under the compromise reached Tuesday.
After the vote, Matt Simon of the Marijuana Policy Project said "the Senate is out of touch," noting Granite Staters favor legalization by a 2-to-1 margin.
He said the agreement will likely result in higher penalties for first-time offenders than many receive now.
The agreement is a sideways action when Massachusetts and Maine will have referendums this fall on legalizing marijuana, Simon said, and Canada is also considering legalization, as is Vermont.
But he noted the support for legalization is higher in New Hampshire than any of the surrounding states.
The Senate and House will have to approve the agreement next week.
News Moderator: Christine Green 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: No decriminalization of marijuana possession for now | New Hampshire
Author: Gary Rayno
Contact: (603) 668-4321
Website: unionleader.com - Manchester, NH
Meeting briefly on Tuesday morning negotiators quickly agreed to the Senate version of the bill, which reduces first-time possession from a Class A offense to an unspecified misdemeanor. Senate supporters say it will give prosecutors and judges more discretion.
The House approved two bills this session to ensure a first-time marijuana offender does not have a criminal record that follows him or her for a lifetime.
The final version of the House bill would have made possession of less than one-quarter ounce of marijuana a violation similar to a speeding ticket.
House proponents say their version would bring New Hampshire in line with the other New England states.
The Senate did agree to lower the fine from $500 to $350 for the first offense under the compromise reached Tuesday.
After the vote, Matt Simon of the Marijuana Policy Project said "the Senate is out of touch," noting Granite Staters favor legalization by a 2-to-1 margin.
He said the agreement will likely result in higher penalties for first-time offenders than many receive now.
The agreement is a sideways action when Massachusetts and Maine will have referendums this fall on legalizing marijuana, Simon said, and Canada is also considering legalization, as is Vermont.
But he noted the support for legalization is higher in New Hampshire than any of the surrounding states.
The Senate and House will have to approve the agreement next week.
News Moderator: Christine Green 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: No decriminalization of marijuana possession for now | New Hampshire
Author: Gary Rayno
Contact: (603) 668-4321
Website: unionleader.com - Manchester, NH
