Oops: Outgoing Michigan Gov. Accidentally Repeals Drug Crime Penalties
- Posted on December 29, 2010 at 5:04pm by
Meredith Jessup
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LANSING, Mich. (AP/The Blaze) — Possessing drugs such as synthetic marijuana and an Ecstasy-like substance called BZP won’t result in jail time or fines in Michigan because lawmakers accidentally repealed the penalties for those crimes.
A bill that took effect in October made it illegal to have or use such drugs. It called for up to one year in jail and fines of up to $2,000 for misdemeanors. Felony cases involved more severe penalties.
But in December, lawmakers engrossed in a busy and lengthy lame-duck session failed to include those penalties in a drug sentencing bill. When Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed that bill last week, the penalties for synthetic marijuana and BZP were repealed.
Granholm is urging the next legislative session to address the mistake and incoming state Sen. Rick Jones says he’ll introduce a bill to fix the law when the legislature convenes in January.
“It’s outrageous and dangerous and Governor Granholm should have known better,” Jones told the Holland Sentinel. “Her legal advisors told her this, and she went ahead and signed it anyway, which is shocking to me.”
The bill was signed during a late-night session, where Jones said mistakes are common.
“Future terms should have more session days and not goofy all night sessions when errors occur,” Jones said.
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cranes
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:15amThis was no accident! This was planned!
Report Post »loneranger85
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 2:48am“Accidentally.” Uh huh.
Report Post »Jerbear1098
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 6:39pmFrom the state that everyone is leaving. 2010 census….. #1 state people have left. #2 Porto Rico Hum…
Wonder why?
Report Post »VS
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 2:50pmRead this again, it was pointed out to her and she signed it anyway! This was a deliberate act, not an oversight or mistake………Does the fact she is an outgoing DEMO get your attention! They screw the voting public again & again! After all they think we are stupid & complacent, that’s how they got into office to begin with!
Report Post »KEA
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:00am“The bill was signed during a late-night session, where Jones said mistakes are common.”
THEN STOP ALL THE LATE-NIGHT SESSIONS! We the People are tired of this crap!
Report Post »Carl McPherson
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:37amI may have saved myself and my family by leaving Michigan.. but I feel awful for all my friends and family still left in that horrid State.
Report Post »T.G.momof3
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:41amAmen! My family wants me to come back, but it’ll be at least a decade to undo the damage. Of course by then nestle may have drained the great lakes!
Report Post »Paul
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:22amAt least she’s finally gone from office in Michigan. Word is she will be rewarded with some type of national position from Obama for being such a good Democratic leader. Now she’ll get to screw things up on a national level. I was hoping she would just disappear from embarrassment over the rotten job she did in Michigan.
Report Post »sdemascio
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:17amunbeleivable she is the queen of idiots in Michigan…. but what can you say for a canadian…..or as her office stated…“she is a Harvard educated lawyer” hooya for Harvard…. i have long thought that institution needs to be used as a low yield nuclear test zone……
Report Post »dantom
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:02amThanks forthe canadian gov.
Report Post »Ialmostforgot
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:32amThey were smoking that stuff and forgot what they were doing.
Report Post »prage2001
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:04amAnd what kind of crap are they going to attach to THAT bill?
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:56amLooks like they took a page out of the Pelosi-Reid book on how to screw up legislation by having late night, last minute, sessions. All you have to do is draft a bill with lots and lots of pages all put in legalise where nobody can really understand it, push to have it passed in a late night or on a holiday, and bingo, “you‘ve got stupidity that you have to wait till we pass it to see what’s in it” And go figure, another Progressive Democrat who signs it. Good riddance to her.
Report Post »Major Infidel
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:50amAnything they can, I’m sure.
I don‘t understand why we can’t acknowledge the fact that a lot of people want to get high. They’re actually going as far as to create synthetic thc. This speaks volumes to me and should to you. We’ll never get rid of it, so much like alcohol, the best way to control and tax something is to legalize it. Why is this concept so hard to understand? Hell, I bet the tax revenue generated alone would be incredible and could be applied directly to the deficit. Better yet, it could pay for a public hospital system.
It wouldn’t have to be in all states either, just one. Nevada, Las Vegas to be exact. Why not add one more sin to sin city? Someone can go to one destination inside the US and get laid, play some blackjack and catch a buzz like a gentleman. Keeping everything above board, regulated and taxed properly.
Conservatives need to pull the moral sticks out of their asses and realize this is the best solution and the idea of zero tolerance is foolish, not working and costing us an arm and a leg. Lets make it pay us, not the drug dealers and dirt bags.
Report Post »jackrorabbit
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 2:24amAnd if you believe this, I have a great bridge for sale. Like they didn’t know… oh wait, no one actually read the legislation before voting, so guess they can claim ignorance. How nice.
Report Post »jmparrish
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 6:32amMajor i agree: Prohibition only makes a market for the Mexican Cartels (organized crime) just like in the 20′s
I bet she just mistakenly saved her state alot of money not having to waist time productivity prosecuting and incarcerating non-violent offenders. . . while at the same time made alot more room for people that actually belong in jail/prison, like armed robbers, and violent thugs in general that usually get less time then the pot grower, go figure.
Report Post »Anne G
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:02amJust another democrat who doesn’t bother to read the bills
Report Post »before signing on to them. Anyone surprised?
*************************
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 3:37amALL “drug” bills are unConstitutional. The government has NO CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE for such things. But the government IS PREPARING for their communist overthrow of America and THE WAR ON DRUGS is the perfect foil to get things ready …
REPORTER: “Sir, they are dummies.”
Report Post »Gov. LePETOMANE: “I know that. How do you think I got elected?”
-Blazing Saddles
CYCLONE
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 3:54am“Future terms should have more session days and not goofy all night sessions when errors occur,”
…hhhmmmmm…. or better yet… layi’n off the crack pie…GEEZ
Report Post »CYCLONE
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 3:53amAdd your comments
Report Post »BuckwheatA2
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:33pmAnother Jenny from the block classic!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 1:15amI was “blown away” from Michigan years ago … how about reading before signing? Watch her go straight to Washington and the Obama Admistration … ugh!
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