allenlovesgreen

Rell Opposed To Marijuana Decriminalization
3/30/09|The Hartford Courant| By Christopher Keating



HARTFORD -- Gov. M. Jodi Rell is opposed to the decriminalization of marijuana -- a highly controversial issue that could come up for a committee vote in the legislature as soon as today.

Some Democratic legislators have been pushing hard this year for a decriminalization of less than one ounce of marijuana, and Rell had not previously voiced a public view on the bill. Two of Rell's spokesmen stopped short Monday of using the word "veto,'' but they both said that Rell opposes the concept.

"The governor opposes illegal drug use and possession,'' said spokesman Rich Harris. "Whether it's a little or a lot, marijuana is an illegal drug.''

Rell had previously vetoed a bill that would have legalized the medical use of marijuana in June 2007, saying that she -- as a cancer survivor -- had sympathy for those who wanted to use marijuana for pain management. But she said her sympathy could not overcome her concerns that those seeking to obtain the drug would need to break the law to purchase it. The medical marijuana bill passed by 89 to 58 in the state House of Representatives and by 23 to 13 in the Senate, and both chambers fell shy in 2007 of the two-thirds margin needed to override a veto.

This year's bill would reduce the penalty for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana -- from the current misdemeanor to an infraction with a maximum fine of $121.

The legislature's judiciary committee was still in caucus at 12:30 p.m. Monday, but the committee's longtime co-chairman, Rep. Michael P. Lawlor, said there is a "50 -- 50'' chance that a vote will be held this afternoon.

"I think the votes are definitely there,'' Lawlor said in a telephone interview. "I think even some of the Republicans will vote for it.''

Negation

This is a silly argument. I'm not quite sure how to articulate it best, but simply arguing that "illegal drugs are illegal and that's why I oppose it" is, to me anyway, the same as saying that anything made illegal should remain illegal because it's illegal. Well, it's illegal now, but once it's legalized, it won't be illegal anymore.

blondie0420

Exactly. It's circular reasoning.

I've really come to hate Jodi Rell over the past few years. Besides vetoing mmj a couple of years ago, she's also been a big hypocrite when it comes to her so-called ethics. She came in after Governor Rowland left office due to his myriad ethics violations and she said she wanted the state government to be squeaky clean. Then, a few months after she was elected, it becomes known that someone on her campaign was misusing state funds - a major ethics violation. Governor Rell herself was in charge of deciding whether this misuse of funds should be investigated and/or punished, and she decides to just sweep it under the rug instead of holding this person accountable. 'Cause that's soooo damn ethical, right?

Oh, and let's not forget that she opposed gay marriage by claiming that, 'the point of marriage is reproduction.' So, I guess barren couples shouldn't be allowed to get married, right? And anyone past child-bearing age shouldn't be allowed to get married, either? Fuck, I guess even people who don't WANT kids shouldn't be allowed to get married?

Maybe I should just create a thread about how much our governor sucks??

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byrned

It seems yet another politician is stuck on the belief that if its illegal, there's no changing it cuz I said so. Just shows the close mindedness that continues to piss me off. And its annoying because it seem that both the Senate and the House were in favor of it, only for it to be shut down by the one stubborn governor.

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Searching for something,
Searching for something.
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SleepyJohn

Hey M J Rell, so You had cancer,and You know it hurts, but still, You have"sympathy".
Sympathy doesn't make You eat during kemo therapy. But the other Mj does. What's Your real reason? Somebody made a dubious law against marijuana, back in 1933, where the linked it in to the Narcotics mis-guided area. Why Veto, relief from anything to anybody. Governors aren't Medical Doctors, they are supposed to serve the people.

nightwitch

send her links to all vicitims of the drug war

Drug War Victims

Faces of HR95

VeryImportantPotheads

VeryImportantPotheads

DoobieBrother

haha, blondie, I hate to laugh, but going by your description, your governor sounds like a real cunt. Good luck in CT, I hope things turn out for the better for you guys in some near future.

BillieBudd

Does Connecticut have provisions for Citizen Initiative?? If you can get the provisions on the ballot and prevail, it matters not a hoot what she or anyone else thinks (see Massachusetts)..
I hope they pass it with a veto proof vote, but not knowing anything about Connecticut's procedures or politics,maybe that's impossible...

octagon_red

So if she's opposed to decriminalization that means she's all for locking up people who may have voted for her,and are doing something far less dangerous to society than legal drugs like alcohol,and fast food.Governors are elected servants who are supposed to represent the people of their states,not personal opinions.She probably has someone lining her pockets,and filling her head with what they want her to say,-----and it's not the people of Ct.--- Let the people vote !!