Page 6-Friday, May 19, 1978-The Michigan Daily
Weaker pot penalties
By MICHAEL ARKUSH The committee also recommended
A bill that would impose weaker removing any jail sentences for minors
penalties for the possession of convicted of possessing less than an
marijuana was approved yesterday by ounce.
the Michigan House Judiciary Commit- "The major purpose of our proposals
tee. The bill was immediately sent to is to decrease the penalties imposed
the House, where discussion is expected against youngsters and make a move
to begin early next week.
The bill, which passed after weeks of
intense debate, was submitted to the
Judiciary Committee after the Senate
approved the measure several weeks
ago. The committee slightly amendedP
the Senate version of the bill but kept
most of its provisions intact.p

proposed
toward decriminalizing marijuana,"
said Rep. Perry Bullard (D-Ann Ar-
bor), a member of the Judiciary Com-
mittee and a key supporter of the bill.
TO SECURE the bill's passage
several modifications in the Senate
"The major purpose of our
proposals is to decrease the
penalties imposed against
youngsters and make a move
oward decriminalizing mari-
uana."
-Rep. Perry Bullard
(D-Ann Arbor)

THE BILL calls for lower penalties in
several instances, most significantly
the penalty required for a person con-
victed of possession of more than one
ounce of marijuana without intent to
sell. The committee recommended the
penalty for that offense be reduced to a
misdemeanor resulting in a fine or a
possible 90 day jail sentence. The
present punishment is a one year sen-
tence.

y
t,
ij

to House
"IT LOOKS like it had to be done to
get this bill moving to the House," he
said.
Bullard, stormed out of a committee
meeting earlier this week, complaining
that the committee's proposal to in-
crease penalties against adults who
give or sell marijuana to minors was
hypocritical. He said it was wrong to
increase penalties against adults, while
reducinghe penalties for the other of-
fenses.
The Ann Arbor representative then
criticized Rep. E. Dan Stevens (R-
Atlanta) for opposing the measure
because of possible political con-
sequences. At the time Bullard said it
might be necessary to postpone any ac-
tion on the bill until after the fall elec-
tions.
Stevens, who opposed the bill, defen-
ded his position by noting the lack of
punishment against marijuana
smokers.
"NOBODY IN the committee convin-
ced me that marijuana was a good
thing to promote," said Stevens.
Stevens did state, however, that he
voted in response to the concerns of his
constituents.
"I think the people in my constituen-
cy feel the same way about this bill that
I do," said Stevens.
In 1977, 96-year-old Mary R. Adams
became the oldest woman ever to make
a hole-in-one when she aced the fifth
hole at the Hawaii Kai par-three course
in Honolulu. She did it on her birthday.

version were approved. One change
was to increase the punishment against
adults convicted of selling more than an
ounce of grass to minors from the
Senate-proposed one year
misdemeanor to a four-year felony.
The other change increased the
penalty against adults convicted of
dealing pot from the Senate recom-
mendation of a $200 fine to a $500 fine
and/or a 180-day jail term.
Although Bullard stated he was
against these changes in the Senate bill,
he admitted they were necessary to
persuade other members of the com-
mittee to pass the measure.


The Ann Arbor Film Cooperative
Friday, May 19 presents of MLB 3
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
(Ion MacNaughton, 1972) 7 & 10:20-MLB 3
"Monty Python's Flying Circus" is an English TV program representing British
comedy at its outrageous best and the first full length film based on it is no less
hilarious. Howard Kissel called it, "The most outrageous inventive, hilarious,
brilliant comedy since 'THE PRODUCERS'!"
QUACKSER FORTUNE HAS A COUSIN
(Waris Hussien, 1970) IN THE BRONX 8:40ONLY-MLB3
GENE WILDER as an individualist who rejects the regimentation oflfactory life
for the dubious privilege of collecting and peddling horse manure to Dublin
housewives. MARGOT KIDDER is his sweetheart in this melancholy and romantic
comedy.
Tomorrow: Bergman's "THE MAGIC FLUTE"



CCINEMA 1I
BLONDE ON BLOND: '
,, Two classics from Hollywood
BLOND VENUS
Director-JOSEF VON STERNBERG, 1932
One of the most popular Dietrich-Sternberg concoctions, BLONDE
VENUS tells the story of a woman accepting money from a playboy to
finance a treatment for her husband's terminal illness. When the husband
misunderstands, she sets out on a journey across America. Highlights
include Dietrick singing "Hot Voodoo' in an ape suit, and a luminous
bordello sequence that surpasses anything Sternberg ever shot.
PLATINUM BLONDE
Director-FRANK CAPRA, 1931
Glamour girl JEAN HARLOW shows how blondes have more fun and
always get their man-regardless. This saga of romance is Capra's
newspaper comedy, based vaguely on THE FRONT PAGE. Very funny,
with a young Loretta Young.
Blonde Venus-7:30 only-AUD. A, ANGELL HALL
Platinum Blond-9:30 only-AUD. A. ANGELL HALL
$1.50
Tomorrow: Zabriskie Point, Antonioni