Schwarzenegger Reduces Charge for Marijuana Possession

[WestVirginiaRebel]

CBS News:

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday signed into law a bill that reduces the charge for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction.

Upon signing the bill, however, Schwarzenegger took the opportunity to reiterate his opposition to Proposition 19, the measure that would legalize the growth, possession and distribution of marijuana in California.

The new law does not change the penalties for possession. Currently, carrying up to an ounce of marijuana is punishable by a fine of up to $100; no jail time or probation can be ordered. One key difference, however, is that until now a defendant has been entitled to a jury trial and a defense attorney. By downgrading possession to an infraction, that will no longer be the case.

"In this time of drastic budget cuts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, and the courts cannot afford to expend limited resources prosecuting a crime that carries the same punishment as a traffic ticket," Schwarzenegger wrote in a signing statement.

The new rules go into effect in California January 1, 2011.
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Smoke 'em if you got 'em!

[AceRimmer]

Why do I get the impression that Cheech and Chong are moving to California if they don't already live there? I suppose the next step is Let's Make a Dope Deal.

[pollyannaish]

What is he smoking?!

 

Actually, reducing the penalties for this might not be a bad idea. Although I am not in favor of legalizing it, I think the penalties for it have gotten way out of proportion to the crime, and have become unwieldy and too expensive to execute. This seems like a reasonable way to address the issue.