Gov. Dannel P. Malloy should be commended for throwing his political weight behind pending legislation to amend the state's draconian marijuana penalties. Let's hope that lawmakers have the courage to follow his lead.

Members of the General Assembly's Judiciary Committee recently heard testimony in favor of a pair of bills that would reduce the possession of small amounts of marijuana by adults from a criminal misdemeanor — now punishable by up to one-year in jail and a $1,000 fine — to a civil offense punishable by a fine only. This proposed "deprioritization" is a common sense, fiscally responsible alternative that will cut costs, improve public safety and have a positive impact on the quality of life of thousands of Connecticut citizens.

State arrest statistics (as of 2007) indicate that police make 7,500 arrests annually for marijuana violations. Ninety-one percent of these prosecutions are for possession only, not sale, cultivation or trafficking. Passage of this legislation would spare these thousands of minor marijuana offenders from criminal arrest, prosecution and incarceration, as well as the emotional and financial hardships that follow — including the loss of certain jobs, student loans, federal and state subsidies, and child custody rights.

Most adult marijuana users act responsibly and consume marijuana solely within the privacy of their homes. They are not part of the crime problem and they should not be treated like serious criminals. Deprioritization would maintain the monetary sanctions for marijuana possession violations, but would spare offenders from being saddled with lifelong criminal records. This change would continue to discourage marijuana abuse, while halting the practice of permanently criminalizing thousands of otherwise law-abiding citizens.

This legislative change would also promote public safety. Law enforcement resource allocation is a zero-sum gain. The time that police officers spend arresting and processing minor marijuana offenders is time when they are not out on the streets protecting the public from more significant criminal activity. Passage of this legislation will allow law enforcement officials, prosecutors and the courts to reallocate their resources toward activities that will more effectively target serious criminal behavior and keep the public safe.

Public opinion strongly favors such a reprioritization of law enforcement resources. According to a recent CNN/Time Magazine poll, approximately three out of four citizens favor a fine over criminal penalties for the possession of marijuana. In fact, 13 states — including nearby Maine and Massachusetts — have already enacted various forms of marijuana deprioritization, replacing criminal sanctions with the imposition of civil fines for minor marijuana offenders. In not a single instance have lawmakers recriminalized marijuana after implementing decriminalization.

Contrary to the concerns of some, making adult marijuana possession offenses a civil matter would not negatively affect marijuana use patterns or attitudes. Passage of similar legislation in other states has not led to increased marijuana use or altered adolescents' perceptions regarding the potential harms of drug use.

In fact, the only U.S. government study ever commissioned to assess whether the enforcement of strict legal penalties positively affects marijuana use found, "Overall, the preponderance of the evidence which we have gathered and examined points to the conclusion that decriminalization has had virtually no effect either on the marijuana use or on related attitudes and beliefs about marijuana use among American young people."

In short, the measures before the legislature seek to find effective ways to reduce government expenditures and promote public safety. These are goals that lawmakers should support. Reducing marijuana possession from a crime to a civil offense is a common-sense, fiscally responsible proposal that will cut costs without altering the public's attitudes or use of marijuana. Connecticut lawmakers should endorse this effort.

Paul Armentano grew up in Connecticut and is a 1990 graduate of Simsbury High School. He is the deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and is the co-author of the book "Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink."

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