CALIFORNIA LOWERS POT PENALTIES

California Gov. Arnold Schwar-zenegger opposes Proposition 19, which
would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in the state, but he
offered a consolation by signing a bill that would downgrade
possession of an ounce or less from a misdemeanour to an infraction.

Senate Bill 1449 was written by Democratic state Senator Mark Leno,
who said it will keep marijuana-related cases from going to
court-clogging jury trials. The penalty would remain a fine of up to
$100 but no jail time.

"In this time of drastic budget cuts, prosecutors, defence attorneys,
law en-forcement and the courts cannot afford to expend limited
resources prosecuting a crime that carries the same punishment as a
traffic ticket," Schwarzen-egger wrote in a signing message Thursday.

The governor's action was denounced by Randy Thomasson, president of
saveCalifornia.com.

"This virtual legalization of marijuana definitely sends the wrong
message to teenagers and young adults," Thomasson said. "It invites
youth to become addicted to mind-altering pot because there's not much
hassle and no public stigma and no rehab if they're caught."

However, the governor was praised by Dale Gieringer, director of
California NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana
Laws), which supports legalization. "Gov. Schwarzenegger deserves
credit for sparing the state's taxpayers the cost of prosecuting minor
pot offenders," Gieringer said.

The new law takes effect Jan 1, 2011.