LAWMAKERS AIMING TO LEGALIZE POT

CONCORD - A move to decriminalize the use of marijuana tops the agenda
as the New Hampshire Legislature begins to hear from the public on its
1,400 bills for the 2007 session.

As usual, the finished fine print is coming out slowly for bills in
part because the newly sworn-in lawmakers need to sign off on 995
pieces of legislation. As a result, the public hearings before House
committees start slowly this week.

Still, it's a safe bet the marijuana legislation in front of the
Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Wednesday morning will
spark plenty of debate.

A new group calling itself the Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana
Policy has started collecting signatures in favor of the bill (HB 92)
through online petitions on its Web site, www.nhcommonsense.org.

"Despite the threat of severe penalties, many responsible, productive
New Hampshire citizens continue to use marijuana. As long as these
individuals do not harm others, we believe it is unwise and unjust to
continue persecuting them as enemies of the state," the group declares.

Matt Simon of Amherst, the group's spokesman, said it had less than a
week to prepare testimony in support, but will be ready.

"Six days isn't much time, but the evidence is on our side, and I know
we will be able to make a compelling case for the committee,"
explained Simon.

"If the committee is willing to give this bill the serious
consideration it merits, it will conclude that decriminalization is
the only sensible solution to the slew of problems marijuana
prohibition has created for New Hampshire."

The group contends laws against the use of marijuana only increase the
incidence of violence and property crime.

Leaders with Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) and the New
Hampshire Liberty Alliance (NHLA) are also expected to offer support.

The three authors are a rare bipartisan mix led by liberal Keene
Democrat Chuck Weed, conservative Haverhill Republican Paul
Ingbretson, and Manchester Republican Steve Vaillancourt, who at other
times has been a Democratic and Libertarian lawmaker.

But supporters have their work cut out for them despite the Democratic
takeover of both houses of the Legislature last November.

Similar proposals have failed badly in past years. In 2001, the House
overwhelmingly defeated, 223-101, a move to make marijuana use legal
and only for medicinal purposes for the terminally or seriously ill.

Attorney General Kelly Ayotte's office has traditionally opposed the
move and a spokesperson said that position remains the same. Lobbies
for the local police chiefs and county sheriffs are expected to weigh
in against the bill as well.