Wednesday Hearing on Bills to Decriminalize Possession and to Legalize and Tax Sales
PROVIDENCE, RI -- A former Providence police officer and a former undercover narcotics detective will testify today before a Rhode Island House committee in favor of bills that would decriminalize and legalize marijuana. The bill to legalize and regulate marijuana sales (H7582/S2367), and the bill to decriminalize possession of less than one ounce of marijuana (H7092/S2253), will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee at the rise of the House (approximately 5 PM) in Room 313.
Beth Comery, who served as a Providence police officer for six years, will be testifying for the bills. "The fact is, the current marijuana laws don't enhance public safety; they threaten it," she said. "F.B.I. statistics indicate that nationally, nearly four of ten murders, six of ten rapes and nine of ten burglaries go unsolved. The criminal justice system should be focusing its limited resources in these areas, rather than on the approximately 800,000 people that police arrest every year for marijuana offenses."
Comery is a speaker for the organization Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), an international group of police officers, judges, corrections officials, border agents and other criminal justice professionals who have witnessed the failures of the so-called "war on drugs" firsthand.
The decriminalization bill is co-sponsored by 22 of of the state's 38 senators and 41 of 75 House representatives, including Republican Minority Leader Brian Newberry. A Public Policy Polling survey conducted earlier this year shows that 65 percent of Rhode Islanders support decriminalizing marijuana possession and that a majority (52 percent) support legalizing and taxing marijuana sales. In 2010, the Rhode Island Senate created a special commission to study the state’s marijuana laws. It recommended decriminalizing marijuana possession.
"Ceasing to arrest people for using small amounts of marijuana is a great step in the right direction. My home state of Massachusetts has been benefiting from such a change since 2008, when 65% of our voters passed an initiative to decriminalize marijuana," said Jack Cole, LEAP's board chairman, a retired state police lieutenant and undercover narcotics detective who is a resident of Medford, Massachusetts. "But unless and until we actually legalize and regulate marijuana sales, we'll continue to see violent gangs and cartels raking in tax-free revenue from the illegal market."
Rhode Island could bolster the state treasury by more than $48 million a year by ceasing to arrest people for marijuana and instead taxing and regulating its sales, according to Harvard University economist Jeffrey Miron.
The full text of the House versions of bills being heard today can be found at http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText12/HouseText12/H7582.htm and http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText12/HouseText12/H7092.htm
Polling data on support for marijuana policy reform in Rhode Island can be found at http://www.mpp.org/assets/pdfs/states/Rhode-Island-poll.pdf
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) represents police, prosecutors, judges, prison wardens, federal agents and others who want to legalize and regulate drugs after fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs" and learning firsthand that prohibition only serves to worsen addiction and violence. More info at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeMarijuana.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 21, 2012
CONTACT: Tom Angell - (202) 557-4979 or media@leap.cc
Showing posts with label jack cole. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jack cole. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Thursday, June 30, 2011
New Jersey Narc Supports New Bipartisan Marijuana Decriminalization Bill
Assembly Bill Would Let Cops Focus on Violent Crimes
TRENTON, NJ -- A bill to decriminalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana was introduced in the New Jersey General Assembly with bipartisan support on Wednesday. The bill, which is being endorsed by a group of police and judges who once waged the "war on drugs," comes less than a month after Connecticut legislators passed similar legislation decriminalizing marijuana.
Jack Cole, a 26-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police and board chairman for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, said, "As a former undercover narcotics detective in New Jersey, I now know that all the time and resources I spent arresting people for marijuana offenses over the course of my career didn't accomplish anything good. In addition to being a waste of money that should have been spent solving and preventing violent crimes, these arrests in many cases ruined otherwise productive people's lives. The marijuana decriminalization bill is a great first step to undoing some of the damage wrought by the failed 'war on drugs.'"
The New Jersey bill, A4252, would remove criminal penalties for adults who posses less than 15 grams of marijuana. It is sponsored by Assemblymen Reed Gusciora (D) and Michael Patrick Carroll (R) with 15 additional co-sponsors.
Harvard University economist Jeffrey Miron estimates that New Jersey currently spends more than $183 million every year enforcing its marijuana prohibition laws. In 2009, 22,439 people in New Jersey were arrested for possessing less than 50 grams of marijuana.
Rachel Cotrino, an attorney and Board member at NORML NJ, said, “In addition to imprisonment, offenders of the current law face loss of driving privileges from six months to two years. This unreasonably punitive measure causes many, otherwise law abiding citizens, to lose their jobs because they cannot get to work. Offenders also face eviction from their leased premises or loss of public housing. It is time to decriminalize the individual user and remove the current penalties that stifle our community and economy.”
Fourteen states in the U.S. have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana by adults.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) represents police, prosecutors, judges, federal agents and others who want to legalize and regulate drugs after fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs" and learning firsthand that prohibition only serves to worsen addiction and violence. More info at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2011
CONTACT: Tom Angell - (202) 557-4979 or media@leap.cc
TRENTON, NJ -- A bill to decriminalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana was introduced in the New Jersey General Assembly with bipartisan support on Wednesday. The bill, which is being endorsed by a group of police and judges who once waged the "war on drugs," comes less than a month after Connecticut legislators passed similar legislation decriminalizing marijuana.
Jack Cole, a 26-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police and board chairman for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, said, "As a former undercover narcotics detective in New Jersey, I now know that all the time and resources I spent arresting people for marijuana offenses over the course of my career didn't accomplish anything good. In addition to being a waste of money that should have been spent solving and preventing violent crimes, these arrests in many cases ruined otherwise productive people's lives. The marijuana decriminalization bill is a great first step to undoing some of the damage wrought by the failed 'war on drugs.'"
The New Jersey bill, A4252, would remove criminal penalties for adults who posses less than 15 grams of marijuana. It is sponsored by Assemblymen Reed Gusciora (D) and Michael Patrick Carroll (R) with 15 additional co-sponsors.
Harvard University economist Jeffrey Miron estimates that New Jersey currently spends more than $183 million every year enforcing its marijuana prohibition laws. In 2009, 22,439 people in New Jersey were arrested for possessing less than 50 grams of marijuana.
Rachel Cotrino, an attorney and Board member at NORML NJ, said, “In addition to imprisonment, offenders of the current law face loss of driving privileges from six months to two years. This unreasonably punitive measure causes many, otherwise law abiding citizens, to lose their jobs because they cannot get to work. Offenders also face eviction from their leased premises or loss of public housing. It is time to decriminalize the individual user and remove the current penalties that stifle our community and economy.”
Fourteen states in the U.S. have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana by adults.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) represents police, prosecutors, judges, federal agents and others who want to legalize and regulate drugs after fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs" and learning firsthand that prohibition only serves to worsen addiction and violence. More info at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2011
CONTACT: Tom Angell - (202) 557-4979 or media@leap.cc
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Former Police Officers Testify for Changes to Marijuana Laws in Rhode Island
Two Wednesday Hearings: One to Decriminalize Possession, One to Legalize and Tax Sales
PROVIDENCE, RI -- A former Providence police officer and a former undercover narcotics detective will testify today before Rhode Island House committees in favor of bills that would decriminalize and legalize marijuana. The bill to legalize and regulate marijuana sales, HB 5591, will be heard by the House Finance Committee at 1:00 PM in Room 35 of the State House. The bill to decriminalize possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, HB 5031 will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee at the rise of the House in Room 313.
Beth Comery, who served as a Providence police officer for six years, will be testifying for the bills. "The fact is, the current marijuana laws don't enhance public safety; they threaten it," she said. "F.B.I. statistics indicate that nationally, nearly four of ten murders, six of ten rapes and nine of ten burglaries go unsolved. The criminal justice system should be focusing its limited resources in these areas, rather than on the approximately 800,000 people that police arrest every year for marijuana offenses."
Comery is a speaker for the organization Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), an international group of police officers, judges, corrections officials, border agents and other criminal justice professionals who have witnessed the failures of the so-called "war on drugs" firsthand.
The decriminalization bill has 40 of the state's 75 representatives signed on as co-sponsors and, according to a Mason-Dixon poll, 64 percent of Rhode Islanders support decriminalizing marijuana possession. Last year, the Rhode Island Senate created a special commission to study the state’s marijuana laws. It recommended decriminalizing marijuana possession.
"Ceasing to arrest people for using small amounts of marijuana is a great step in the right direction. My home state of Massachusetts has been benefiting from such a change since 2008, when 65% of our voters passed an initiative to decriminalize marijuana," said Jack Cole, LEAP's board chairman, a retired state police lieutenant and undercover narcotics detective who is a resident of Medford, Massachusetts. "But unless and until we actually legalize and regulate marijuana sales, we'll continue to see violent gangs and cartels raking in tax-free revenue from the illegal market."
Rhode Island could bolster the state treasury by more than $48 million a year by ceasing to arrest people for marijuana and instead taxing and regulating its sales, according to Harvard University economist Jeffrey Miron.
The full text of the bills being heard Wednesday and other information can be found at http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText11/HouseText11/H5591.pdf and http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText11/HouseText11/H5031.pdf
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) represents police, prosecutors, judges, prison wardens, federal agents and others who want to legalize and regulate drugs after fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs" and learning firsthand that prohibition only serves to worsen addiction and violence. More info at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 16, 2011
CONTACT: Tom Angell - (202) 557-4979 or media@leap.cc
PROVIDENCE, RI -- A former Providence police officer and a former undercover narcotics detective will testify today before Rhode Island House committees in favor of bills that would decriminalize and legalize marijuana. The bill to legalize and regulate marijuana sales, HB 5591, will be heard by the House Finance Committee at 1:00 PM in Room 35 of the State House. The bill to decriminalize possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, HB 5031 will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee at the rise of the House in Room 313.
Beth Comery, who served as a Providence police officer for six years, will be testifying for the bills. "The fact is, the current marijuana laws don't enhance public safety; they threaten it," she said. "F.B.I. statistics indicate that nationally, nearly four of ten murders, six of ten rapes and nine of ten burglaries go unsolved. The criminal justice system should be focusing its limited resources in these areas, rather than on the approximately 800,000 people that police arrest every year for marijuana offenses."
Comery is a speaker for the organization Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), an international group of police officers, judges, corrections officials, border agents and other criminal justice professionals who have witnessed the failures of the so-called "war on drugs" firsthand.
The decriminalization bill has 40 of the state's 75 representatives signed on as co-sponsors and, according to a Mason-Dixon poll, 64 percent of Rhode Islanders support decriminalizing marijuana possession. Last year, the Rhode Island Senate created a special commission to study the state’s marijuana laws. It recommended decriminalizing marijuana possession.
"Ceasing to arrest people for using small amounts of marijuana is a great step in the right direction. My home state of Massachusetts has been benefiting from such a change since 2008, when 65% of our voters passed an initiative to decriminalize marijuana," said Jack Cole, LEAP's board chairman, a retired state police lieutenant and undercover narcotics detective who is a resident of Medford, Massachusetts. "But unless and until we actually legalize and regulate marijuana sales, we'll continue to see violent gangs and cartels raking in tax-free revenue from the illegal market."
Rhode Island could bolster the state treasury by more than $48 million a year by ceasing to arrest people for marijuana and instead taxing and regulating its sales, according to Harvard University economist Jeffrey Miron.
The full text of the bills being heard Wednesday and other information can be found at http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText11/HouseText11/H5591.pdf and http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText11/HouseText11/H5031.pdf
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) represents police, prosecutors, judges, prison wardens, federal agents and others who want to legalize and regulate drugs after fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs" and learning firsthand that prohibition only serves to worsen addiction and violence. More info at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 16, 2011
CONTACT: Tom Angell - (202) 557-4979 or media@leap.cc
Monday, March 1, 2010
Press Release: LEAP to Testify for Marijuana Legalization in Massachusetts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 1, 2010
CONTACT: Tom Angell – (202) 557-4979 or media //at// leap //dot// cc
Retired Undercover Narc and Assistant Attorney General Testify for Legalizing Marijuana
Mass. Senate Bill Would Regulate and Tax the Cannabis Industry
BOSTON, MA-- A retired undercover narcotics officer and a former Massachusetts assistant attorney general will both tell Massachusetts legislators on Tuesday that it is time to legalize and regulate marijuana, based on their experiences as front-line soldiers in the “war on drugs.”
“Legalizing and regulating marijuana will serve two purposes. First, and most importantly, it will cut deeply into the profits of the drug gangs and the cartels. Second, it will generate revenues for the state,” said Jack A. Cole, a former New Jersey State Police undercover narcotics detective. Mr. Cole, who is a Medford, Mass. resident, is now the executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), an international group of cops, judges, and prosecutors who no longer believe in the drug laws they once swore to enforce.
Testifying alongside Cole in favor of legalization will be former Massachusetts assistant attorney general, John A. Amabile, also a member of LEAP. The hearing, held by the Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary, takes place this Tuesday, March 2, at 1:00 P.M. in room A-1 of the Statehouse.
The legislature’s consideration of Senate Bill 1801, which would legalize and regulate marijuana sales, follows the 2008 passage by 65 percent of Massachusetts voters of an initiative that decriminalized marijuana possession. Last October, the Massachusetts Joint Revenue Committee held a hearing about legalizing marijuana sales.
Massachusetts joins several other states that are considering legalizing marijuana sales. In recent months Washington State and California have held hearings on legalization bills. New Hampshire also has legalization legislation pending, and a Rhode Island Senate-appointed blue ribbon commission is studying the topic.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), is a 15,000-member organization representing police, prosecutors, judges, FBI/DEA agents and others from around the world who want to legalize and regulate all drugs after fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs" and learning firsthand that prohibition only serves to worsen addiction and violence. More info online at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com.
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CONTACT: Tom Angell – (202) 557-4979 or media //at// leap //dot// cc
Retired Undercover Narc and Assistant Attorney General Testify for Legalizing Marijuana
Mass. Senate Bill Would Regulate and Tax the Cannabis Industry
BOSTON, MA-- A retired undercover narcotics officer and a former Massachusetts assistant attorney general will both tell Massachusetts legislators on Tuesday that it is time to legalize and regulate marijuana, based on their experiences as front-line soldiers in the “war on drugs.”
“Legalizing and regulating marijuana will serve two purposes. First, and most importantly, it will cut deeply into the profits of the drug gangs and the cartels. Second, it will generate revenues for the state,” said Jack A. Cole, a former New Jersey State Police undercover narcotics detective. Mr. Cole, who is a Medford, Mass. resident, is now the executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), an international group of cops, judges, and prosecutors who no longer believe in the drug laws they once swore to enforce.
Testifying alongside Cole in favor of legalization will be former Massachusetts assistant attorney general, John A. Amabile, also a member of LEAP. The hearing, held by the Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary, takes place this Tuesday, March 2, at 1:00 P.M. in room A-1 of the Statehouse.
The legislature’s consideration of Senate Bill 1801, which would legalize and regulate marijuana sales, follows the 2008 passage by 65 percent of Massachusetts voters of an initiative that decriminalized marijuana possession. Last October, the Massachusetts Joint Revenue Committee held a hearing about legalizing marijuana sales.
Massachusetts joins several other states that are considering legalizing marijuana sales. In recent months Washington State and California have held hearings on legalization bills. New Hampshire also has legalization legislation pending, and a Rhode Island Senate-appointed blue ribbon commission is studying the topic.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), is a 15,000-member organization representing police, prosecutors, judges, FBI/DEA agents and others from around the world who want to legalize and regulate all drugs after fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs" and learning firsthand that prohibition only serves to worsen addiction and violence. More info online at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com.
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Thursday, November 26, 2009
Crack down on organized crime and save addicts — Legalize Hard Drugs
Well I'm here in Calgary airport waiting for a connecting flight to Victoria. Ottawa was great although the jet lag is hitting me hard right now. Testifying in front of the Senate committee was an amazing experience but I will write about it later as I'm still digesting the whole thing.
This Magazine is a small but influential magazine published in Canada since 1966. Their theme this month is "legalize everything," and Katie Addleman has a lengthy article about drug policy in the issue. It includes interviews with retired judge Jerry Paradis, LEAP executive director Jack Cole as well as myself. The piece is titled, "Crack down on organized crime and save addicts — Legalize Hard Drugs."
Also, we have a new member in the LEAP speakers bureau: William (Bill) Cooke. He spent four years as a prosecutor with State's [Maryland] Attorney's Office for Baltimore City. (I can't even imagine how busy he must have been.) Bill has agreed to become a co-author on the blog and I'm looking forward to reading his posts.
This Magazine is a small but influential magazine published in Canada since 1966. Their theme this month is "legalize everything," and Katie Addleman has a lengthy article about drug policy in the issue. It includes interviews with retired judge Jerry Paradis, LEAP executive director Jack Cole as well as myself. The piece is titled, "Crack down on organized crime and save addicts — Legalize Hard Drugs."
Also, we have a new member in the LEAP speakers bureau: William (Bill) Cooke. He spent four years as a prosecutor with State's [Maryland] Attorney's Office for Baltimore City. (I can't even imagine how busy he must have been.) Bill has agreed to become a co-author on the blog and I'm looking forward to reading his posts.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
VIDEO: LEAP Talks Legalization on Fox News
Jack Cole, retired undercover narcotics detective and LEAP's executive director, went on Judge Andrew Napolitano's Fox News show to discuss the pair's mutual support for legalizing drugs after spending careers sending countless drug offenders to jail.
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