Marijuana Penalty Increase Bill Returns to New York Assembly: Drugwar.com

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Please distribute this memo widely. Forward to family and friends who
live in New York, or send them to http://www.mpp.org/NY
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TO: New York residents

FROM: Richard Schmitz, MPP legislative analyst

DATE: Friday, April 19, 2002

Marijuana penalty increase bill returns to New York Assembly

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The New York Senate has approved a bill, S. 3408, that would increase penalties for a third offense involving more than 25 grams of marijuana -- which is less than one ounce -- within a five-year period.

Penalties for that offense would increase from a possible three months in prison and a $500 fine to a possible four years in prison and a $5000 fine. Penalties would further increase for a fifth or tenth
offense within five years.

This is the second time that the Senate has approved this bill. They initially passed it last year, but it died in the Assembly without receiving any action. Not to be deterred, the Senate approved the bill again on April 8 and sent it back to the Assembly.

Please take a few minutes and visit MPP's New York Web site --http://www.mpp.org/NY -- and send an e-mail to the 17 members of the Assembly Codes Committee, asking them to once again oppose this bill.

This bill is not in the public's best interest. Tell committee members to reject S. 3408 and instead focus on legislation that will alleviate-- not compound -- the state's prison crowding problem.

Although S. 3408 is expected to die again in the Assembly, it is important for legislators to know that you oppose efforts to increase penalties for marijuana. With that knowledge in hand, they can quickly and confidently reject such needlessly punitive bills.

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