Massachusetts officials unite to fight marijuana initiative
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008 at 1:16 pm | By: Radical Russ
Officials unite to fight marijuana initiative – The Boston Globe
Law enforcement officials statewide are uniting against a referendum question they fear will increase marijuana use among teenagers and generate more crime across the state.The state’s 11 district attorneys are unanimously opposing Question 2 and are being joined by police chiefs and some community groups, fearing it will undo years of effort to reduce drug use among teenagers. Governor Deval Patrick’s administration also is opposed, according to a spokesman.
But supporters of Question 2, who are organized under the name Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy, are striking back. Today, they plan to announce that they have applied for criminal complaints against unnamed district attorneys for alleged campaign law violations, according to Whitney Taylor, the group’s executive director.
Taylor said that if Question 2 passes, marijuana will still be an illegal drug. And, she said, the new approach will increase parental involvement in marijuana cases for those under 18 years old because police will be required to notify parents about the civil matter. She said those under 18 must complete drug awareness training and do 10 hours of community service.
Taylor said teenagers would benefit by the change because they would no longer have a record in the state’s criminal history databases, one that could haunt them later in life when they apply for jobs.
But according to prosecutors, under current law, those arrested with an ounce or less of marijuana automatically have their case continued without a finding for six months, and if they do not violate the law, their criminal file is sealed.
“Nobody goes to jail today for simple possession of marijuana,” said Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, who is listed as the treasurer for the opponents, who are using the name Coalition for Safe Streets during the campaign.
Whoa, it seems like District Attorney Blodgett has also never seen a Marijuana Unicorn!
Paul Armentano makes a great point about how, on the one hand, the Drug Czar tells us time and again how dangerous marijuana is, how we can’t talk about drug addiction without talking about marijuana, how marijuana is plaguing the youth, leading to heroin, and today’s “Pot 2.0″ has become super-potent and addictive…
…and yet at every opportunity, they downplay the idea that anyone suffers any criminal justice repercussions for their possession of marijuana. ”It’s the most dangerous drug plague of all!… but we don’t lock anybody up over it.”
Current polling shows support in Massachusetts for Question 2 hovering at about 70%. For more information on the initiative, visit the Committe for Sensible Marijuana Policy’s website at SensibleMarijuanaPolicy.org.
Topics: Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy, Massachusetts, Question 2
