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[GK86]

Link.

Voting along party lines, the Delaware state Senate gave final approval Thursday to a measure that decriminalizes the possession and private use of small amounts of marijuana, and Gov. Jack Markell almost immediately signed the legislation into law.

The bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Helene Keeley,, allows Delawareans to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and use the drug privately without facing criminal sanctions.

Criminal penalties for simple possession will be replaced with a civil $100 fine. The law takes effect in six months.

The decriminalization measure, which cleared the House earlier this month, passed despite significant opposition from police groups, and from Republicans.

Selling marijuana remains criminal under the law. No Republican voted in favor of the legislation in either the House or the Senate.

"This is a vote we're going to really, really regret," Republican Sen. Colin Bonini said. "Would you want your kid smoking weed. I think the answer is overwhelmingly no."

In a statement after Thursday's vote, Robert Capecchi, a lobbyist with the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, said "marijuana is an objectively less harmful substance than alcohol, and most Americans now agree it should be treated that way. Delaware has taken an important step toward adopting a more sensible marijuana policy," Capecchi said.

Nineteen other states and the District of Columbia have stopped charging citizens criminally for possessing small amounts of marijuana. In Delaware, like in other states, there is evidence that the law is disproportionately enforced along racial lines, which was a driving force behind the bill's passage.

Blacks in Delaware were three times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession in 2010, despite accounting for a much smaller portion of the population, according to a 2013 report from the American Civil Liberties Union.

Marijuana arrests previously threatened to saddle Delawareans with a criminal record, something the legislation's supporters believed was unnecessary for a drug that they say poses few risks.

"It's safer for me to choose cannabis over alcohol," Zoe Patchell, a Delaware marijuana activist with Cannabis Bureau of Delaware, said during committee testimony Wednesday.

The bill's supporters did give some ground to opponents, especially those in the law enforcement community. Language added by amendments strictly defines a public place where it will remain criminal to consume marijuana. Public places include any outdoor space within 10 feet of any window or sidewalk.

Delawareans under 21 also still face criminal penalties if caught with marijuana under an amendment added in the House. And it will remain criminal to consume marijuana in a moving vehicle under the current legislation.

Police groups remained concerned throughout legislative debate that decriminalizing marijuana possession could limit their ability to initiate searches that could lead to even more substantial charges for drug dealers and traffickers.

State Attorney General Matt Denn, the state's top law enforcement official, said Thursday that he supported the decriminalization measure. "I've said for some time that we're generally supportive of possession of small amounts being treated as a civil rather than a criminal offense," Denn said.

 

[Foffy]

Delaware coming to their senses. Slowly but surely, at least.

 

[highrider]

Always good to see a loosening of the marijuana laws, but also reaffirms how far off we are.

 

[Aaron Strife]

"Won't someone please think of the children?" said a Republican legislator

 

[CadetMahoney]

About 10 years ago if you told me MJ would be legal in parts of America (grow your own, buy in shops etc.) I wouldn't of believed you.

 

[Coriolanus]

Wait what, if you're 18-21 and consume weed, you'll face criminal penalties?

But yeah, nice step but not enough. Decriminalization wont combat trafficking and will still allow cops to harrass users, threatening to slap them with trafficking. Obviously this kind of harrassment will have no racial component whatsoever.

Really need legalization.

 

[ShadowKingpin]

I agree with 21 and up for Marijuana.

 

[alfredofroylan]

Is there a "Penny" gif for this?

 

[Baron Aloha]

Good. Now legalize it.

 

[ezrarh]

"Won't someone please think of the children?" said a Republican legislator

How else can we jail black people for nonviolent crimes!?

 

[Kusagari]

"This is a vote we're going to really, really regret," Republican Sen. Colin Bonini said. "Would you want your kid smoking weed. I think the answer is overwhelmingly no."

Oh, so this is how we do these things now?

Well we might as well ban alcohol and cigarettes right now, Colin Bonini. I bet the majority of parents don't want their kids doing those things either.

 

[jstripes]

"This is a vote we're going to really, really regret," Republican Sen. Colin Bonini said. "Would you want your kid smoking weed. I think the answer is overwhelmingly no."

Would you want your kid drinking beer?

Would you want your kid drinking wine?

Would you want your kid drinking hard liquor?

Would you want your kid smoking cigarettes?

Would you want your kid driving a car?

Would you want your kid voting in an election?

 

[AnotherNils]

"This is a vote we're going to really, really regret," Republican Sen. Colin Bonini said. "Would you want your kid smoking weed. I think the answer is overwhelmingly no."

Would you want your kids drinking alcohol?
Would you want your kids smoking cigarettes?
Would you want your kids watching porn?

Don't forget to make those illegal too, Colin.

 

[G.ZZZ]

Wait what, if you're 18-21 and consume weed, you'll face criminal penalties?

But yeah, nice step but not enough. Decriminalization wont combat trafficking and will still allow cops to harrass users, threatening to slap them with trafficking. Obviously this kind of harrassment will have no racial component whatsoever.

Really need legalization.

Pretty much. Legalization is the only thing that can kill criminal organizations and significantly improve citizen's life. Decriminalization is nice but you keep the money in the hands of org. crime.

 

[BubbaMc]

I'd much rather my kids consumed weed than alcohol, if I had to choose.