| | As the pot turnsSeptember 3, 2008 - Mark LeberfingerSports and the crime beat. They normally don't mix, but they do cross paths on occasion -- like Wednesday. Word out of University Park is that Penn State University police found marijuana late Tuesday in an apartment whose tenants are four Nittany Lion football players. You can read the story from The Mirror's Cory Giger here. After reading the search warrant application and the police report, it looks like authorities may file possession of a small amount of marijuana charges against those responsible. They say they're still investigating. The case raises the issue: "What's the big deal about marijuana?" There is a push in America to decriminalize marijuana use, especially for medical reasons. Presidental candidates Bob Barr and Ralph Nader want to decriminalize the use -- Nader to a much larger scale than Barr. John McCain and Barack Obama are silent on the issue, according to information posted on their Web sites. Under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, possession of a small amount of marijuana is punishable, upon conviction, with a jail term of no more than 30 days, a fine of no more than $500, or both. About 0.28 ounces, or 8 grams, of marijuana is considered a small amount. Decriminalizing marijuana would certainly cut down on the arrests. As of Aug. 31, police made 304 marijuana possession arrests in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield and Huntingdon counties, according to the stateás Uniform Crime Report. Penn State University police at the main campus made 39 of those arrests. What do you think? Keep the laws in place or decriminalize marijuana use? Article Comments(1)StorminOct-06-08 3:49 AM De-criminalize weed and drugs. All drugs. Amsterdam has virtually no drug related crimes. Because drugs are not illegal. For use. Not sales. But the powers who dictate will never see the common sense in this. As they are blinded by money. The prison industries are some serious money makers. The entire In-justice system in America will instantly lose over a 100,00 jobs if drugs are legal. It's the dollar. Always is in America. Not morals, common sense, but money. Post a Comment | |
