LAWMAKERS REJECT MARIJUANA BILL

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Senate, voting along party lines, rejected a
bill Wednesday that would specify what a "usable amount" of marijuana is in
determining levels of punishment for possession.

Next comes consideration in the House of Representatives, where most of the
few members who have looked closely at the measure thus far have signaled
their support.

The proposal rejected by the Senate had been backed by a 10-3 majority of
the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.

As put forth by the committee, the proposal would insert language in
existing law to specify a threshold under which possession of marijuana
becomes a mere civil infraction rather than a criminal violation.

The proposed clarification would read: "possession of a usable amount of
marijuana of a weight equal to or less than 11/4 ounces is a civil
violation," punishable for a first offense by a forfeiture of between $200
and $400.

Possession of larger amounts would be a Class E crime.

Debate leading up to the Senate vote Wednesday was brief.

The committee majorityis proposal would introduce needed clarity in the
law, said Republican Sen. David Carpenter of Sanford.

In rebuttal, Democratic Sen. Ethan Strimling of Portland cited high jail
populations and argued for giving latitude to juries.

The Senate vote had 18 Democrats declaring opposition to the bill and 16
Republicans in favor, with one Republican absent.

Of the three senators on the Criminal Justice panel that originally
considered the measure, Strimling, who is the Senate chairman, and fellow
Democrat Pam Hatch of Skowhegan joined the minority voting against the
bill, while Carpenter was the lone senator on the panel in favor.

Nine of the 10 House members on the committee, including House Chairman
George Bunker, D-Kossuth Township, voted to recommend passage, with only
Democratic Rep. Stan Gerzofsky of Brunswick registering opposition.

Maine has considered possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal
use a non-criminal offense since the mid-1970s.

In other action Wednesday, the Senate went along with a prior House vote
and gave final approval to a bill requiring bottlers to clearly disclose on
their labels the source of water being sold.

The proposal says labels must spell out the name and geographic location of
the water source, without using abbreviations or acronyms.