decriminalization news stories on Newser

Next to Decriminalize Marijuana: Chicago?

Matt Cantor — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:41:05 CDT

As public support for marijuana legalization grows, Chicago may take things one step closer: The city is looking to decriminalize the stuff, meaning users carrying small amounts would pay tickets instead of winding up in jail, the Chicago Tribune notes. Those carrying less than 10 grams would be slapped with...

Connecticut Decriminalizes Marijuana

Rob Quinn — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 19:00:05 CDT

Possessing a half-ounce or less of pot will soon no longer be a crime in Connecticut. After a spirited discussion, the state's House of Representatives has voted to make Connecticut the 14th state in the nation to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, reports the Hartford Courant . Democratic Gov....

Why We Must Arrest Child Prostitutes

Evann Gastaldo — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:29:05 CST

With the average age of a girl entering prostitution at 13—and getting lower—the idea of decriminalizing childhood prostitution certainly sounds compassionate. After all, isn't arresting a young girl, who's presumably been victimized by a pimp, like punishing her a second time? Precisely the opposite, write Janice Shaw Crouse...

Why Proposition 19 Failed

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 10:59:56 CDT

Proposition 19 , California’s marijuana legalization measure, went up in smoke yesterday—but why? A few opinions: Pot is already legal: The campaign for Prop 19 was “centered on the injustice and waste of law enforcement resources involved in treating cannabis smokers like criminals,” a point that was effectively squelched when...

Why We Need to Legalize Pot

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:35:00 CDT

What will happen if we legalize marijuana? Simple: Police will be able to “focus on serious crime instead,” writes George Soros in the Wall Street Journal . The liberal billionaire and philanthropist outlines his reasons for supporting California’s Prop 19 , with the bottom line being that “our marijuana laws are clearly...

Marijuana's Newest, Unlikeliest Fans: Republicans

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 18:28:21 CDT

The GOP may or may not be the Party of No, but it's the Party of Yeahhhhh, Man, when it comes to legalizing pot: Nancy Pelosi’s challenger, Ronald Reagan’s speechwriter, and even Glenn Beck are just a few of the Republican faithful who have spoken up in favor of decriminalizing...

Obama Pot Policy a Victory for States' Rights

Nick McMaster — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:31:26 CDT

The Obama administration’s decision to respect state laws on medical marijuana is good policy—and not just because it demonstrates compassion toward cancer and AIDS patients, writes Glenn Greenwald. Despite his critics’ charges of “socialism” and “fascism,” President Obama is showing that his administration, unlike the Bush White House, is...

India Appeal Likens Gay Sex to Bestiality

Wesley Oliver — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:21:40 CDT

India’s gay and lesbian community celebrated the Delhi High Court’s decriminalization of homosexual sex last week with lavish parties, but festivities may have been premature, GlobalPost reports. India’s Supreme Court has signaled that it will consider an appeal of the verdict, the climax of an 8-year legal battle that exposed...

We've Lost the War on Drugs

Matt Cantor — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:14:59 CDT

The war on drugs has been waged for 40 years, but despite spending $44 billion annually, “the drugs have won,” writes Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times . A former police chief notes that “drugs are more readily available, at lower prices and higher levels of potency—the drug war...