There is a brief editorial on The Tufts Daily about the latest effort by New Hampshire to decriminalize small amounts of Marijuana. Here's a wee snip from the page:

The New Hampshire House of Representatives' recent passing of Bill 1623, which would decriminalize the possession of a quarter-ounce of marijuana or less, is a logical - if controversial - decision, and one that the Daily supports.

New Hampshire would be the 13th state to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. Under current New Hampshire law, possession of a quarter-ounce of marijuana is punishable by a $2,000 fine and up to a year in jail - a punishment that supporters of the bill say is too harsh.

The number of states tolerating Marijuana is growing quickly, hopefully a sign of the times for post-Bush America.

Remember when Denver's voters decided back in November to make pot "the city's lowest law-enforcement priority"? The ballot measure joined another, passed in 2005, saying that residents had the right to carry less than an ounce of marijuana, leading to hopes that marijuana arrests were about to become a thing of the past in the Mile High City.

But precisely the opposite has happened. More people are being arrested these days than before the measures passed, according to one disappointed backer who spoke to The Denver Post:

Mason Tvert, a proponent of the marijuana initiatives, said that 1,600 adults faced charges of misdemeanor marijuana possession in 2007, an increase of 18 percent from 2006, an increase of 36 percent from 2005 and an increase of approximately 50 percent from 2004."

 

The Chicago Tribune posted news today that in 2004, Obama came out for decriminalizing Marijuana use, then later changed his statement.

On Thursday, The Washington Times reported that in 2004, as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, Obama came out for decriminalizing marijuana use. That usually means eliminating jail sentences and arrest records for anyone caught with a small amount for personal use, treating it more like a traffic offense than a violent crime. But in a show of hands at a debate last fall, he indicated that he opposed the idea.

When confronted on the issue by the Times, however, the senator defended his original ground. His campaign said he has "always" supported decriminalization. It's a brave position, and therefore exceedingly rare among practicing politicians. Which may be why it didn't last. Before the day was over, the Obama campaign issued a statement saying he thinks "we are sending far too many first-time non-violent drug users to prison for very long periods of time" but "does not believe that we should treat offenses involving marijuana with a simple fine or just by confiscating the drug." Recently, he had told a New Hampshire newspaper, "I'm not in favor of decriminalization."

I'm not sure what to make of this, what do you think?

[X]Press Online posted a story on an 82 year old film maker and author from Berkeley, CA who spreads the word of Marijuana decriminalization and medicinal use through her documentary work.

Burch, along with other marijuana advocates and users, promotes marijuana as a natural and healthy alternative to costly and sometimes dangerous prescription medications.

“[Marijuana] is not going to turn your kids into bums who don’t do their homework,� Burch said.

Patients facing depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, chronic pain, and other ailments in California have chosen to defy orders by the federal government and use marijuana as an alternative to taking legal medications that are habit forming or have too many side effects. Despite federal laws prohibiting marijuana usage, medically or otherwise, some Bay Area patients and SF State students continue to use marijuana medically and recreationally.

Oregon Live has news about a petition in Portland that looks to change Marijuana laws in Oregon. Here's the gist of the article:

Starting today, signature gatherers will ask Portland residents to put a law on next year's ballot decriminalizing possession of as much as an ounce of marijuana.

It's a weird request, as possessing that much pot is already decriminalized statewide. Oregon was the first state to decriminalize a little dope, way back in 1973. Having a little marijuana is now a civil violation, like speeding, punishable by a $500 to $1,000 fine.

Other Oregon pot fanciers want to move way beyond removing penalties. They're aiming for a 2010 ballot measure to legally sell marijuana through Oregon liquor stores, taxing the sales for state revenue -- a law that, if passed, guarantees a war with the federal government.

I've got a few friends in Portland, I'm sure they'll be signing the petition, if they can find it. I'd love to see a war with the Federal Government, they need to realize that we mean business and this is no joke and Marijuana shouldn't be scheduled with crack and ecstasy!