BOUCHER LEADS CHARGE AGAINST MARIJUANA PROPOSALS

State Senator Toni Boucher (R-26), joined by concerned citizens, spoke
out against several proposals before the General Assembly to
decriminalize marijuana and allow medical marijuana in
Connecticut.

"We must not give Connecticut a 'soft on crime' reputation where it
becomes easy to obtain a get-out-of-jail-free ticket," Ms. Boucher
said in a press release.

Ronni McLaughlin, a Wilton mom, has been a strong believer that taking
away the teeth from legislation sends the wrong message to youths. She
joined Ms. Boucher is speaking against the proposals.

"If lawmakers approve this marijuana legislation, it will be a grave
mistake," said Ms. McLaughlin. "I've seen first-hand the damage this
gateway drug has on individuals and families."

Ms. McLaughlin's son Dan, then 20, died of a heroin overdose in
2004.

"Marijuana is a gateway drug that leads to heroin, which very likely
leads to the end of life," she said. "Alcohol and marijuana are drugs
that teens and preteens will try for many reasons such as peer
pressure, stress, inquisitiveness. ... My son started smoking when he
was 14 years old and then went on to cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, and
finally after priding himself on doing anything but heroin, gave in to
that drug as well."

After recounting her family's many efforts to help her son kick his
addiction, she said "when a teenager starts drinking or smoking, they
don't know how addiction can affect them."

"Marijuana is a harmful, Schedule I, federally illegal drug that does
not save or improve lives," said Ms. Boucher. "It can undermine the
seriously ill's best prospect of recovery and is the wrong
prescription for Connecticut."

Ms. Boucher said Yale University and the University of Connecticut
medical societies have determined that smoked marijuana causes damage
to the brain, heart, immune system, and lungs, as well as impairing
learning and memory, and perception and judgment.

"A marijuana cigarette is four times as potent as one tobacco
cigarette, producing tumors, respiratory and heart ailments. There is
now conclusive evidence that smoking marijuana gives you greater
exposure to cancerous chemicals than from tobacco," Ms. Boucher's
release said.

It cited studies that have "linked pot to the loss of motor skills,
increased heart rate, and impairing the ability of the body's T-cells
to fight off infections. The drug treatment centers of Connecticut
cite that 60% of their admissions are now for marijuana addiction."

If proposals to decriminalize marijuana are passed, possessing a small
amount of pot, less than one ounce, would be punishable with a fine of
up to $90, instead of a criminal charge. According to A Drug Free
America, an ounce of pot equals 60 to 120 joints, Ms. Boucher said.

Lisa Berthiaume, chair of the Connecticut Elks Drug Awareness Program,
said, "Decriminalizing up to an ounce of marijuana will make it easier
for street corner drug dealers to do business. An insignificant civil
fine will just be the cost of doing business... they will learn to
carry smaller amounts on them before returning home to stock up and
head back out to the streets to continue."

If proposals allowing doctors to recommend medical marijuana pass, an
eligible person would be allowed to grow four pot plants at home, as
long as the plants are no more than four feet, Ms. Boucher said.

"Experts say one pot plant can produce up to 80 ounces of marijuana,
which could equal as much as 9,600 joints. Is this trafficking or medicine?

"And finally, under the current proposals, the drug-free zones around
schools and day care centers would be moved from 1,500 feet to 200
feet, allowing dealers to do business right in front of our children's
eyes.

"I am tremendously grateful and proud that we have fought repeated
attempts in the past to take our state down this dangerous path and
have not broken a trust with our constituents of doing no harm," said
Ms. Boucher. "Let's all work to continue to keep our children and
neighborhoods safe."