New Hampshire, Hawaii, and Vermont embrace decriminalization of marijuana

WASHINGTON, DC — With numerous states facing significant budget shortages, legislators and voters across the country this month have
been giving overwhelming support to measures that would reduce the
penalty for possession of small amounts of marijuana to a civil fine.

Yesterday in New Hampshire, the state House voted 214-137 to pass H.B.
1653, a bill that would reduce the penalty for possession of up to a
quarter-ounce of marijuana with a civil fine of up to $200.

In Hawaii, the state Senate voted 22 to 3 on March 2 to pass SB 2450, a
bill that would eliminate criminal penalties for the possession of up to
one ounce of marijuana and replace them with a civil fine of up to $300
for a first offense and $500 for a subsequent offense.

And in Vermont, 72% of voters in Montpelier approved a non-binding
ordinance asking the state legislature “to pass a bill to replace
criminal penalties with a civil fine for adults who possess a small
amount of marijuana.”

“Taken together, these developments demonstrate how an increasing number
of voters and lawmakers across the country no longer support the notion
that otherwise law-abiding citizens should be arrested, slapped with a
criminal record and possibly thrown behind bars, simply for choosing to
use a substance that is safer than alcohol,” said Karen O’Keefe,
director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project. “We know
from efforts in other states that decriminalizing the possession of
small amounts of marijuana allows police to focus on more serious crimes
and also produces a net financial gain through saved law-enforcement
costs and the revenue generated by civil fines. Lawmakers everywhere
should take heed of these examples, especially in these troubled
economic times.”

Currently 12 states have laws that reduce the penalties for possession
of small amounts of marijuana to a civil fine. A decriminalization bill
in Rhode Island is co-sponsored by 48% of House members.

With more than 124,000 members and supporters nationwide, the Marijuana
Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in
the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm
associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar
to alcohol. For more information, please visit www.mpp.org.

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