Lawmaker not high on police agency’s pot stance

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Then Renatza came to the committee room table. He shook Badon’s hand, sat down beside him and advised legislators to slam the brakes on the bill.

“It always starts with lessening the penalties. It ends up with issues toward legalization. For that reason alone, we’re opposed,” Renatza said.

With Renatza’s statement, the debate took on an edge.

One committee member, state Rep. Steven Pylant, said drug use rips apart families.

Pylant, R-Crowville, is a former sheriff.

“It’s a shame and disgrace for us to do anything to minimize the consequence of drug use,” Pylant said.

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In contrast to another House bill that would eliminate jail time entirely the first and second times someone is caught with a small amount of marijuana, HB14 would decrease the penalties for some simple possession convictions. A second conviction would be punishable by up to two years in prison, instead of up to five years. A third conviction would be punishable by up to five years, instead of up to 20 years. Prosecutors would no longer be able to use simple marijuana possession convictions to send offenders away for life as habitual offenders.

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The absolute stupidity in this is astounding. Politicians walk after getting DUI's and people are put in Prison for pot. Ridiculous.