MARIJUANA BILL DESERVES PASSAGE

Polls indicate that state residents are willing to take a closer look
at harsh penalties for marijuana possession. It's time lawmakers
followed suit.

The General Assembly's Judiciary Committee last week approved
legislation that would end criminal penalties for possession of small
amounts of marijuana and create mail-in fines of $250. The change
would not sanction or condone the use of drugs, but it would be a
step toward eliminating a statute that can put a black mark on
people's lives for generations.

When asked recently if state residents would favor a law similar to
the statewide ballot initiative passed last November in
Massachusetts, which is similar to the bill advancing in this state,
voters approved 58 percent to 37 percent. The public seems to
understand that pursuing such cases is not a good way to spend
taxpayer dollars.

Currently, possession of marijuana totaling less that 4 ounces is a
misdemeanor. But arrests and convictions across the state take an
enormous toll on public coffers, and the drug is no less available
today than ever before. If the goal is prevention, today's tactics
aren't working.

And the lifetime stigma of a misdemeanor arrest is a legitimate
hindrance. Opponents can argue that people found guilty in such
circumstances deserve to have that record follow them. But public
health experts say the dangers posed by people who face these arrests
are not matched by the penalties they may incur if they cross paths
with the criminaljustice system.

Politicians are always wary about moves like this, which come with
the threat they could someday be labeled "soft on crime." But
changing this law is far more important than the threat of negative
advertising sometime in the future. Lawmakers should do what's right
and then worry about the consequences.

The bill in question differs from the frequently discussed proposal
to allow marijuana for medicinal purposes. Though many people have
said the drug helps deal with the symptoms of debilitating ailments,
the state has been unable to pass such a measure.

In 2007, there were almost 10,000 misdemeanor possession arrests in
the state, with about a third of them for amounts less than an ounce.
Removing these arrests from the judiciary could save an estimated $11
million a year in police, court and incarceration costs and produce
about $320,000 in revenue from fines.

But it's not about revenue -- it's about priorities. The public has
come to the understanding that the cost of pursuing small-time drug
users does not come close to matching the cost they incur by
themselves. The Legislature should follow the public and approve this
bill.