By "Radical" Russ Belville on January 14, 2009
WORCESTER — The City Council last night thwarted an effort to have the city establish an additional civil penalty, and even the possibility of criminal indictment, for the use of marijuana on public property.
By a 7-4 vote, the council placed on file two orders that had asked the city administration to prepare such an ordinance in response to the passage of Question 2 on the November ballot that decriminalized the possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana.
The vote to file is the parliamentary equivalent of placing an item in the wastebasket.
A majority of councilors simply felt it was not necessary or appropriate to have the city alter what the voters approved.
via Worcester Telegram & Gazette News.
This is a followup on our story from Friday where city officials were considering creating a $300 fine and criminal complaint for use of marijuana on publicly-controlled property, despite Question 2′s limit of $100 civil fine and no criminal complaint. It’s nice to see most of the Worcester City Council does understand the authority of state law.
Posted in ACTIVISM, GOVERNMENT, LEGISLATION | Tagged Massachusetts, Question 2, Worcester, worcester city council
I am the host of the NORML SHOW LIVE and The NORML Stash Blog. I'm married, live in Portland, Oregon, and I am a registered medical marijuana caregiver in this state. I've worked days as an IT geek and nights as a professional musician. Previously, I have been the host of my own political talk radio show on satellite radio. I've been the High Times "Freedom Fighter of the Month" for my work producing Oregon NORML's TV show, "A Cannabis Community Forum", and for helping to institute Portland's wildly successful medical marijuana cardholders meetings, where we help sick and disabled Oregonians acquire cannabis plant starts, learn gardening, and understand the medical marijuana law. I've dedicated my life to bringing an end to adult marijuana prohibition and re-legalizing cannabis hemp, and I'm honored to be chosen by NORML to be our daily voice.
