Marijuana possession now on par with traffic and littering tickets in California

[sonomak]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/01/BAR61FN4GC.DTL&tsp=1

Sacramento -- Citing the need to reduce spending on prosecution and courts, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a measure that makes marijuana possession an infraction, on par with traffic and littering tickets.

The Republican governor's unexpected support for the measure comes one month before voters decide whether to legalize adult recreational use of marijuana in California. "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," wrote Schwarzenegger, who opposes Proposition 19, the marijuana initiative.

The law, which takes effect immediately, reduces possession of up to an ounce of marijuana - about the amount that will fit in a sandwich-size bag - from a misdemeanor to an infraction. Already, marijuana possession was the only misdemeanor under California law that didn't allow for jail time.

But the measure by State Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, eliminates the need for police to book people caught with marijuana and for courts to hold jury trials on the matter. Those caught with the drug would not get a conviction of their criminal record...

[USArmyParatrooper]

1. If I remeber correctly, isn't littering $1000 fine in California?

How much is it for an 1/8 of skunk from Humboldt County? The fine I mean :)

[mike_c]

4. LOL-- I live here (in Humboldt County, I mean) and I have no idea....

An eighth of decent indoor hydroponic-- the local market mainstay-- is generally in the $45-55 range. But the fine for possession? I don't know. Frankly, I don't think prosecutions for simple possession are very common.

True story: before the ex and I divorced, I had to call the cops to the house a few times when her post-drinking behavior got out of hand. She was a mean drunk. Anyway, she would usually offer to show them my stash when they arrived, as in "Oh yeah?-- I'll show him!". The local cops ALWAYS shrugged and said "Lady, this is Humboldt County. We really don't need to see his stash."

Of course, it probably wasn't lost on them that the stoner in the room was calm and rational, while the drinker was a freaking maniac. They had to transport her to the county detox facility a couple of times. That probably makes an impression, sooner or later. :rofl:

[USArmyParatrooper]

8. That's way cheaper than I expected

The last time I bought weed I was 13, and we're talking the freaking 80s!

It was $30 for an eighth of real good shit. Given inflation I was thinking it would run at $60-75 today.

[Fumesucker]

2. ...

[Skink]

3. A money making opportunity.

[Luminous Animal]

5. For San Franciscans, this will actually make it worse for pot smokers.

As it stands now, as a result of an administrative directive, pot smokers are generally ignored by the police and people regularly smoke pot in plain view... but, I've little doubt, if there is money to be made, the cops will start handing out tickets.

[RainDog]

6. I wonder if this will impact the prop 19 vote

one way or another.

[Gold Metal Flake]

7. I think they would like it to, but no matter Prop 19 YES!

[Mike Marble]

9. They can still steal you pot and give you a ticket under decrim.

Not under Prop 19, so I hope not.