On Tuesday, congressional candidate Eddie Egriu (pronounced e-grew) called for the legalization of marijuana for use by adults, while pledging to introduce legislation that expunges all non-violent marijuana convictions.
“It’s time to end the expensive, destructive, and pointless war on marijuana users, including cancer and glaucoma patients. It wastes over a billion dollars a year and draws too many young people into a life of crime in areas lacking job opportunities,” Egriu said.
“While I was sitting at the city court, I saw an endless, depressing stream of lost youth, whose schools failed them; whose communities failed them; whose politicians failed them. When schools don’t educate; when politicians turn urban areas into economic dead zones; when the best job opportunity available to young people is selling marijuana or stolen car parts — we see those failures in Part One of our criminal courts, and ultimately those sad, lost, and broken youths end up in the prison behind me,” Egriu said, standing outside of the Erie County Holding Center.
Egriu is challenging Rep. Brian Higgins in this year’s Democratic party primary, and calls himself a “pro-pot populist.” He thinks Higgins has become detached from the neighborhoods that he represents in Congress, not understanding the plight of working families or youth who are struggling to find economic opportunities.
Higgins was first elected to public office in 1988, and was elected to the Congress in 2004. Higgins has also held political office on the Buffalo Common Council and in the New York State Assembly. Higgins does not support the legalization of marijuana for use by adults.
After the press event, Egriu was kind enough to sit down and discuss his views in depth. Egriu sees a range of potential industrial uses, including bio-fuels, bio-degradable plastics, reinforced concrete, textiles, and other uses.
“Our kids today are being labeled — for no reason — victimized,” he said, indignantly. “Brian Higgins doesn’t have the political courage to end America’s War on Weed. I do — and I am.”
The winner of the Democratic party primary will go on to challenge Kathy Weppner, of Williamsville, who has firmly secured her party’s nomination and is unlikely to face a primary.
Marijuana Laws and Penalties in New York State (According to NORML, a DC-based organization working to reform federal drug laws.)Offense | Penalty | Incarceration | Max. Fine |
Possession |
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Less than 25 g (first offense) | not classified | N/A | $ 100 |
Less than 25 g (second offense) | not classified | N/A | $ 200 |
Less than 25 g (third offense) | not classified | 15 days | $ 250 |
25 g – 2 oz | misdemeanor | 3 mos | $ 250 |
2 – 8 oz | misdemeanor | 1 year | $ 250 |
8 oz – 1 lb | felony | 4 years | $ 250 |
1 – 10 lbs | felony | 7 years | $ 250 |
More than 10 lbs | felony | 15 years | $ 250 |
In public view | misdemeanor | 90 days | $ 250 |
Sale |
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Less than 2 g without profit | misdemeanor | 3 mos | $ 500 |
Less than 25 g | misdemeanor | 1 year | $ 1,000 |
25 g – 4 oz | felony | 4 years | $ 5,000 |
4 oz – 1 lb | felony | 7 years | $ 5,000 |
More 1 lb | felony | 15 years | $ 15,000 |
Using a child to assist | felony | 4 years | $ 5,000 |
To a minor | felony | 7 years | $ 5,000 |
Trafficking |
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Any amount | felony | 15* – 25 years | $ 0 |
* Mandatory minimum sentence | |||
Cultivation |
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Any amount* | misdemeanor | 1 year | $ 1,000 |
* Cultivating marijuana is also possessing marijuana under current case law. See penalty details section below. | |||
Hash & Concentrates |
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Possession of up to 1/4 oz | misdemeanor | 1 year | $ 1,000 |
Possession of 1/4 – 1 oz | felony | 7 years | $ 5,000 |
Possession of 1 oz or more | felony | 15 years | $ 15,000 |
Sale | felony | 15 years | $ 15,000 |
Paraphernalia |
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Possession or sale of scales or balances for the purpose of weighing or measuring marijuana | misdemeanor | 1 year | $ 0 |
Subsequent offense | felony | 7 years | $ 5,000 |
Civil Asset Forfeiture |
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Property can be seized if convicted of a felony. | |||
Miscellaneous |
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Mandatory driver’s license suspension of 6 mos for youthful offenders |
Eddie Egriu, pictured above at Sweetness 7 on Grant Street, where he discussed his views on marijuana legalization.