On the ballot this November in Massachusetts, voters will have the opportunity to become the 13th state to decriminalize personal possession of marijuana. The initiative, known as Question 2, would make possession of an ounce or less of marijuana a civil fine of $100, and those under 18 have to complete a drug education program and community service, or else the fine goes as high as $1,000.
Most of all, the offense would not be listed in the Criminal Record Information System (CORI) database. Drug warriors like to say “nobody goes to prison for marijuana“, but the harm from a criminal arrest is bad enough. Once you’re in this CORI database, it’s a red flag that hurts you in getting jobs, housing, loans, security clearances, and more. Plus there is the time and money – about $30 million a year – that Massachusetts wastes busting people for small amounts of pot.
Since the measure is enjoying huge support in the polls, the drug warriors have banded together to mount a media offensive. And by “offensive”, I mean the offensively repugnant stench of reefer madness…
Ballot Question 2, a proposal to decriminalize marijuana, stirs debate – The Boston GlobeChelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes strongly opposes the ballot proposal, viewing it as a step backward in the fight against drug abuse. “It definitely sends the wrong message to kids,” he said. “By decriminalizing this offense right now and making it basically the equivalent of a traffic violation, you are sending the message that it’s OK, that it’s not so bad.”
Translation: if you don’t arrest a teenager and put a big “druggie” black mark on his permanent record, he’ll smoke pot! If you don’t ruin his life, how will he ever learn that marijuana will ruin his life?
Never mind that we arrest them now and put the “druggie” mark on their records, but they still seem to be smoking it… let’s go back to the traffic violations. You know, relative to their age group, teenagers speed more than the rest of us. Maybe that’s because we only treat it like decriminalized marijuana. Maybe we need to be arresting teenage speeders and putting them in the CORI database. Don’t you think a speeding teenager driver is more harmful to society than joint-smoking teenager?
But Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone said the ballot measure “derails all the good and hard work we’ve done on behalf of kids and communities. . . . All the question does is provide another mind-altering substance on the menu of options for our kids to use. . . .”
Because right now, marijuana is not on the menu of options for teenagers. No teenagers use it now, but if you decriminalize it, suddenly many teenagers will use it. Uh, right. Explain again how changing the penalty for marijuana from criminal arrest to civil fine increases supply or availability of marijuana?
“It’s a virtual certainty that if Question 2 passes, there will be an increase in marijuana use and it will happen amongst our kids.”
Because right now, teenagers who are afraid of being arrested will be more than willing to pay a $100 fine, spend weekend fun time at a drug education course and more weekend fun time performing hours of community service. Teenagers love that stuff. Never mind that the government has reported numerous timesthat decriminalization of marijuana has no bearing on use of marijuana.
“We know it’s a gateway drug, and we know kids who use marijuana use it in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and step up to other, more potent drugs,” Leone said.
Never mind that the government has reported numerous times that marijuana is in no way, shape, or form a“gateway” drug.
“We also know the strain of marijuana on the streets is now nine or 10 times more potent than it was a decade ago.”
“The” strain? Let’s see, the Drug Czar’s own propaganda from the Potency Monitoring Project (table 4) says that the overall average THC in all strains seized for 2007 was 8.12%. So, if it’s ten times more potent today, then in 1997, you’re telling me weed was only 0.8% THC and we were all smoking industrial hemp? The government report says weed was 4.53% THC in 1997. So, maybe, if you stretch it, you could say “twice as potent”. But even that’s not accurate, because marijuana’s potency varies widely, and more potent weed is harder to get and more expensive.
Essex lawyer Jonathan W. Blodgett agreed that Question 2 “absolutely sends the wrong message, particularly to young people.” “If this passes, we will see more car accidents and more industrial accidents because people will have absolutely no incentive not to smoke marijuana.”
Because, again, people love paying $100 fines. And, again, people are already smoking marijuana, so apparently the current incentive not to smoke marijuana isn’t working.
Also opposed to the ballot question is Amy Harris, clinical director of [an] outpatient substance abuse clinic in Chelsea… Harris said decriminalization would lead to greater availability of marijuana in the form of “blunts, the cigar-sized marijuana cigarettes now prevalent among young people.
Now decrim not only increases supply and availability, it changes the method people use to smoke! If it is only a $50 fine, do you think everyone will switch to four-foot bongs?
She said such heavy consumption of the drug puts youth at risk for cancer and psychological damage.
Even heavy, long-term use of cannabis does not lead to increased incidence of head, neck, or lung cancers, and we’re talking about much greater concentration and frequency of use than most normal smokers. A tiny minority of people genetically prone to some forms of severe psychological disorders might have a problem using cannabis, but arresting them, depriving them of educational and employment opportunities won’t help that situation.
Decriminalization would also have the effect of “sanctioning the drug so youths can emulate what the adults are doing,” she said.
Why does every policy we have either have to “sanction” something or “reject” something? We’re talking about changing the penalty for marijuana possession. There is still a penalty! You are still sending the message that you do not approve of this activity, but now you’re saving police time and money. Do you think not arresting and instead fining someone for pot sends the message that you think it’s perfectly OK to smoke pot?
Thank goodness 2 passed today
america is missing out by not legalizing marijuana all together. today it is against the law to grow hemp just because it is a sister to marijuana. when they talk about going green they should be looking for that very weed. 1 acre of hemp will make almost 10 times as much wood fiber in 1 year that a acre of hardwood will make in 5 oil from hemp seeds makes 1 of the finest oils know to man plus 1000 gallions of efphinol per acre not to mention that the plants scroub co2 out of the air. herbs were given to man for the use of man, herb stated 7 times on the first page of the bible, is was important or why was it listed there.
i like what mass is doing there if there is ever a pertition here in WV look me up
It appears that Question 2 in Massachusetts has PASSED!!! As a resident of Massachusetts, I’d like to thank everyone and anyone who helped get the word out in support of this initiative.
Question 2 is officially the first marijuana decriminalization law passed by voter initiative!! Massachusetts has made history!!
Thanks again
I think the Greyhounds should be allowed to get medical marijuana. Poor guys.
No on 1
Yes on 2
No on 3
i just want to say where is the evidence that pot can hurt you. also when kids get cought with pot it ruins there whole life and they r on probation for years… than for drug tests the kids will say well i cant smoke pot so i guess ill do coke and other hard core drugs because they only take 2 days to a week to get out of your system… so then kids r now into hard core drugs instead of pot witch has no evidence of harming you. i have looked at evidence and pot does not cause cancer and it actully calms you down and makes you not want to do stupid stuff… cigerates can kill you and there legal… alchol can kill you and you do stupid stuff on it and its legal. so if pot isnt bad y isnt it legal
i agree with everything everyone is sayin vote yes on two…i was caught with a .3 of weed if u dont kno wat that is its about a half a bowl pack not even enough for a joint and i was locked up sent to drug classes and had to pay fines of more then 300.00 dollars wit probation it think its crazy
well put
I would just like to say thank you for those putting Question 2 on the table. I’m tired of feeling that I’m either sober and a Patriot, or high and a criminal. It’s time to seriously look at that which we wish to accomplish from the legalization of Marijuana. Though it is a start, and a much needed one, Question 2 does no more than the basic reduction of a penalty. The issue of there even being a penalty, in the first place, is something that I wish to be brought to the foreground of this debate. Granted we must take steps, but I would like to at least know that we are stepping towards an eventual de-demonized perception of this substance, in general. We have the facts on our side. Let’s not be afraid to shout them at the top of our lungs until heard by those with deaf ears and closed minds! Fear is produced by those who produce laws, in order to control that which is foreign to them. But they wish to control that which is familiar to us! There is an inherent problem of patronization among the law bearers, and we must show them that with such freedoms we can still retain the disciplines of mind to better our selves, our nation, and more importantly our globe. It is time that pretentious values of our politicians and police forces stopped aiming to build a backdrop of which we must find self validation; for that is not there job according to the definition of “Public servant”. The police must protect and serve, but not themselves! Let us, on our own, find that which validates us as individuals in order to come together as a society of self-knowledgeable people, therefore determining for ourselves what is most beneficial for, thus compatible with, our immediate culture, as well as our intermingling with world cultures. Keep the Yes going for Question 2!
Peaceful mind,
Peaceful world.
am i crazy, or isn’t comsumption of ALCOHOL a thousand times more dangerous for the body, the mind, and for people sitting behind the wheel of an automobile? when i was 19, i had a drug problem. not just pot, but the much harder shit. and when was i using? when i was trashed. not stoned; when i’m blazed, i may be stupid, but i still have sense to know right from wrong. when i’m drunk, i’m a friggin idiot, as with most of us. i think the people throwing this “gateway drug” term around need to get off the anti-reefer trip and start gunning down on people buying booze for the kids.
Vote yes on question 2, a criminal record is overboard.
They need to use the most extreme examples in thier oposition because they are just trying to scare people Not tell them the facts or the truth.
Massachusetts is considered liberal, We have gay marriage. I will be voting yes but I will be surprised if question 2 passes.
the Donkey Show.
Vote yes!
For starters alcohol is a far more dangerous substance. We can buy it over the counter, we can drive it home without any issues or concerns, we saw it in our parents refrigerators and cabinets growing up. We can go to a bar and drink freely. The people who are shitfaced driving home are the ones who get in trouble for it and rightfully so. Why can’t this be the same with Marijuana? Marijuana ocan not be purchased legally when the effects are far safer to operate a vehicle under, then alcohol. It is absurd that one can be arrested if it is found in a vehicle especially when the driver is sober. What most people do not understand is that most marijuana users are, in my opinion, more responsible in their personal usage then those who consume alcohol. Current laws are absolutely ridiculous and it is obvious that what the government does not regulate must be criminalized. There will be a day when the government will have a pot tax and responsible individuals will be able to purchase their favorite strains freely in society.
Everyone will be happy on this day.
I will vote no on question 2, people should worry about doing some permanent damage to their record. Maybe if this passes in 2012 It would be then crack that they would be trying to say that would be bad but all you would get for using it is a slap in your hand.
Why is it that the opposition to this initiative has to stoop to blatant lies and half truths? Speculative fear-mongering is supposed to get all the parents out there scared into voting no, but the fact of the matter is that somewhere around 1/3 to 1/2 of Americans try it. If my kid were to try it and get busted, how is ruining his chances at financial aid for college going to help him? How will hurting his chances for getting a good job help him? This is a commonsense initiative, and I am infuriated that law enforcement officials press their agenda for power and money with hate and fear. Let the people be the voice of our state, not the cops!
Perhaps the greatest detriment to our state’s young people is the irrationally severe nature of our marijuana laws. Instead of properly educating our young people about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, we are stripping them of college scholarships and branding them as criminals with the current CORI system. If question 2 does not pass, we can guarantee our State’s path towards reducing our young population into a society of criminally-minded individuals. Instead of this direction, I encourage all voters of Massachusetts to seriously consider the impact that draconian laws have against our children and the eventual outcome of this drastic series of events. Instead of the 30 million dollars that we spend on law enforcement of marijuana-related offenses, I suggest we use this money towards an unbiased and fair drug and alcohol prevention program. Let’s face it, DARE failed. Lets make this work for the future of our children and the state of Massachusetts.
I used to smoke weed a lot but I don’t now. However, I still advocate Yes on Question 2 because I went through a lot with the court systems for a number of years on several different occasions. I am actually still on probation for that shit. 100$ and a drug class would’ve been a lot simpler. I’m not eighteen yet but I will probably be there at the voting station to observe anyways. If you are eighteen, take my advice and my “vote” for yourself. Be selfish with it and vote Yes on question 2!
This crap better pass I was busted with an ounce like a year ago and got enough shit for it a simple fine would be a nice break from worrying about jail.
“we know kids who use marijuana use it in combination with alcohol”
I know kids who use peanutbutter in combination with jelly!
Madness. Absolute Madness.
Fine pot, but not alcohol…
From what I gathered the rational seems to be that if teens in MA smoke pot, they will drink….thus leading to more car accidents.
Let us use our small, fine, logic utensils here and remove the car accident causing threat. The alcohol.
Im no political enthusiast but im excited to tune in for the thrilling conclussion to “Question 2″
And after that, Discovery presents “The Salem Witch Trials” at 10.
XD
Chea!
P.S.
The part about having a stronger penatly for pot when your under 18 made me laugh, thank you for it. It was a good laugh.
Vote yes on questions that make sence
Looks like the public officials in Mass. are returning to their Puritan roots. That is good that it is not the public officials that are going to be the decision makers in this issue, public opinion is for this measure.