THE NEW YORK LEGISLATION, WHICH WAS ENDORSED BY MANY REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, NARROWLY MISSED PASSAGE IN THE ASSEMBLY. THE ASSEMBLYMAN SAID THAT STATES WHICH HAD REMOVED CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR POSSESSING LESS THAN AN OUNCE OF MARIJUANA HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY INCREASE IN USE. THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY SAID THAT WHILE THE PARTY SUPPORTED REDUCED PENALTIES FOR MARIJUANA USERS, PARTICULARLY FIRST OFFENDERS, TOTAL DECRIMINALIZATION WAS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE OF THE PROVEN HARMFUL EFFECTS OF THE DRUG. ALL PARTICIPANTS MENTIONED THE DISPARITIES IN MARIJUANA ARRESTS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE, NOTING THAT IN NEW YORK CITY POLICE IGNORE MARIJUANA POSSESSION OF LESS THAN 5 POUNDS WHILE POLICE IN COLLEGE TOWNS ARREST STUDENTS WHO HAVE A FEW JOINTS IN THEIR POCKETS. OTHER DISCUSSION FOCUSED ON THE NOTION OF MARIJUANA AS AN ANTI-SOCIAL DRUG, THE LINKAGE BETWEEN HEROIN AND MARIJUANA USE, THE SOCIALLY PERCEIVED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA CONSUMPTION, AND CONSERVATIVE POLICIES WHICH ARE AGAINST THE ARBITRARY USE OF STATE POWER BUT CONSIDERING INDIVIDUAL USE OF MARIJUANA TO BE CRIMINAL. (MJM)