Pot decriminalization law goes into effect in New Hampshire

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Updated 2:26 pm, Friday, September 15, 2017

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A law in New Hampshire decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana goes into effect Saturday.

The law reduces the penalty for possession of up to three-quarters of an ounce (21 grams) of marijuana and a much smaller amount of hashish from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil violation with fines up to $300. New Hampshire joins more than 20 states, including all of New England, in easing criminal penalties on pot.

Under the new law, police cannot arrest someone for a marijuana violation. Any money collected from the fines will go toward alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment.

An analyst for the pro-legalization Marijuana Policy Project praised the law, saying there's "no good reason to continue arresting and prosecuting people for marijuana possession."

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Pot-decriminalization-law-goes-into-effect-in-New-12201252.php

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(Short article, no more at link.)

[samnsara]

1. welcome!

[LisaM]

2. This is good, but a word of caution....

in Washington, we enacted a similar law about not arresting people for a marijuana violation. Now, marijuana is fully legal (I voted yes on this). However, now downtown - and some neighborhoods - are full of people openly smoking weed all the time. The police do nothing about it, and I wonder if the older law is still on the books, tying their hands?

[JonLP24]

3. I would love to move there

I loved Washington.

I remember downtown was full of drunk people.

[LisaM]

4. Ha ha, now they are all high.

I think if they are going to allow open marijuana usage, I ought to be able to walk around with a drink!

Actually, downtown is no fun anymore. Aside from all the high people, the Amazon effect is ruining the city. Rents are high, local businesses are closing at a hectic rate (I counted 30 lunch spots I used to go to that are gone), traffic is horrible, and they are knocking down lovely old houses as fast as they can to build horrible looking apartments.

[Impeach Trump]

6. Well, if they're all high those restaurants will probably come back shortly.

[LisaM]

8. No, they are all congregated at McDonald's and Subway.

In an alternate-universe way it's kind of amusing but I miss the city that used to be here. A lot.

[Scurrilous]

13. LOL

[Impeach Trump]

14. Couldn't help it. Binge watching Disjointed on Netflix as I type

Which is pretty funny if one likes pot centered comedy and Kathy Bates.

[SammyWinstonJack]

5. I would love to move to Oregon. My favorite state.

Since I live full time in a motorhome, I can move any where I want. Just need to find an RV park with reasonable rates. Harder than one would imagine.

[Voltaire2]

7. There is no place for visitors to legally smoke.

[Major Nikon]

9. I can only imagine the carnage

Increased instances of flower graffiti

Chartreuse mini-buses clogging up all the fast food drive through

Tie-dye

Soap bubbles

Dogs and cats together

[SoCalMusicLover]

10. You Can Be Cited In WA For Smoking In Public

I did some research before I went to WA after it became legal. There is a law which you can be cited under.

It is the same law which prohibits smoking of cigarettes in a public place. The fine is something ridiculous like $35. So technically you are being cited for smoking in public, rather than the fact that it's pot. And obviously, it's not an offense you could be arrested for.

[LisaM]

12. IKR?

Not that I've ever, ever seen anyone ticketed for smoking in public (the law is that you need to be 25 feet from a doorway, though I guess there are provisions if you are walking and smoking at the same time within the 25 feet).

I seriously think there is more smoking on the street now (of all kinds, including vaping) than there was before they toughened up the smoking bans.

[JonLP24]

15. I remember those laws but they actually aren't as tough as Fort Lewis

I remember 50 ft you had to be from an entrance you couldn't smoke.

[IronLionZion]

11. In DC it's legal on private property but not in public

https://mpdc.dc.gov/marijuana

As a result, it is legal for a person who is at least 21 years old to:

Possess two ounces or less of marijuana;
Transfer one ounce or less of marijuana to another person who is at least 21 years old, so long as there is no payment made or any other type of exchange of goods or services;
Cultivate within their residence up to six marijuana plants, no more than three of which are mature;
Possess marijuana-related drug paraphernalia – such as bongs, cigarette rolling papers, and cigar wrappers – that is associated with one ounce or less of marijuana; or
Use marijuana on private property.


What is still a criminal violation?

A person can still be arrested for:

Selling any amount of marijuana to another person;
Possessing more than two ounces of marijuana;
Operating a vehicle or boat under the influence of marijuana; or
Smoking, eating, or drinking marijuana – or holding or carrying a lighted roll of paper or other lighted smoking equipment filled with marijuana – in any public space, such as:
On any street, sidewalk, alley, park, or parking area;
In a vehicle on any street, alley, park, or parking area; or
Any place to which the public is invited.