Hash
New Member
Measures pass easily in 3 area districts.
Voters south of Boston overwhelmingly supported measures to decriminalize marijuana, surprising some local legislators and law enforcement officials and giving a boost to the drug-law reform movement spreading across the state.
The proposals to decriminalize marijuana and legalize the drug for medical use won by huge margins in all 10 area towns that voted on one or the other of the two initiatives, according to results from nonbinding ballot questions on the Nov. 2 ballot. The ratio of victory was more than 2-to-1 in nine of the communities.
Backers of the local effort to rewrite drug laws say they hope the results, which were mirrored in other communities across the state, will persuade lawmakers to embrace the proposed policy changes and help push Massachusetts closer to passing permanent legislation that makes possession of marijuana a less
The proposals to decriminalize marijuana and legalize the drug for medical use won by huge margins in all 10 area towns that voted on one or the other of the two initiatives, according to results from nonbinding ballot questions on the Nov. 2 ballot. The ratio of victory was more than 2-to-1 in nine of the communities.
Backers of the local effort to rewrite drug laws say they hope the results, which were mirrored in other communities across the state, will persuade lawmakers to embrace the proposed policy changes and help push Massachusetts closer to passing permanent legislation that makes possession of marijuana a less serious offense.
"The numbers are only getting larger and larger and more in our favor," said John Leonard of Hingham, who collected signatures to get the marijuana questions on the Nov. 2 ballot in three area House districts, the Third and Seventh Plymouth and the Sixth Norfolk.
"If the Legislature doesn't get it together soon, a binding initiative will be the only way to go."
Since 2000, the Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts and other groups have initiated efforts to put the public policy questions before communities and give proof to the Legislature that people want to lessen the penalties for those caught with small amounts of the drug. Supporters of the cause say too much time and money are spent prosecuting people holding marijuana that, in some cases, is critical for easing pain for people battling serious illnesses.
Some opponents of the decriminalization efforts contend that voters were not informed about the ballot questions and are unaware of the harmful effects of marijuana. Other law enforcement officials south of Boston argue that marijuana is a gateway drug and that lifting the criminal penalties would increase access to the substance for youths. Also, despite the success of the ballot initiatives, some local lawmakers still seem reluctant to touch the issue.
According to the latest poll results, voters in the Third Plymouth District, which covers Cohasset, Hingham, Hull, and part of Scituate, backed the decriminalization initiative by a combined vote of 15,188 to 6,949. The nonbinding question asked whether the state representatives from the district should be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would make the possession of less than an ounce of marijuana a civil violation, subject to a maximum fine of $100, and not subject to any criminal penalties.
Currently, the maximum penalty for first-time offenders is six months in a house of correction and/or a $500 fine. Repeat offenders are subject to a maximum of two years in a house of correction and/or a $2,000 fine, and the potential loss of their driver's license.
In the Sixth Norfolk District, which covers Avon, Canton, and part of Stoughton, voters offered sizable support for the legalization of marijuana for medical use: 10,782 in favor of and 4,500 against the measure. The ballot question asked whether the district's state representative should be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would allow seriously ill patients, with their doctor's written recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for medicinal use.
The same question received similar support in the Seventh Plymouth District, which covers Abington, East Bridgewater, and Whitman. In these three towns, residents backed the medical marijuana-use initiative by a vote of 13,756 to 5,882.
The movement to decriminalize marijuana in Massachusetts comes as other states across the country take up the issue. On Nov. 2, Montana became the 10th state to stop the arrest and prosecution of people who use marijuana for medical purpose.
Opponents of decriminalization are not backing down.
"There is only great potential for bad and harm with marijuana," said Lea Pallaria Cox, president of Concerned Citizens for Drug Prevention Inc., a group based in Hanover. "There are no benefits. Any mention of medical is totally ridiculous and unfounded."
Cox said the ballot proposals sound innocuous because they are nonbinding and voters do not truly grasp the ramifications of decriminalizing marijuana. The prevention group usually tries to campaign against these ballot measures, but Cox conceded: "I learned about it very late. I did drop the ball."
In Hingham, Leonard said he hoped the resounding victory for the questions would send a message to state Representative Garrett Bradley, who has expressed opposition in the past, that his constituents support change.
Bradley declined to be interviewed and would not make any formal comments on the issue, said a legislative aide, Stephen Burm. The Democratic lawmaker is "still reviewing the results of the election as well as the legislation and the ballot question," he said.
Representative William C. Galvin, who represents the Sixth Plymouth District, said he was somewhat surprised by the overwhelming majority in his district that favors the legalization of marijuana for medical use.
The Canton Democrat said he also voted for the measure.
"If it's a critically ill person and the marijuana will help alleviate the pain, I don't see anything wrong with that," Galvin said.
Still, Galvin is not planning to take the lead on pushing drug reform legislation and said he has not taken a position on the other measure, to make the possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana a civil violation.
Cohasset Police Chief Jim Hussey said he believes that the maximum penalties are rarely imposed and that most offenders are handed lenient sentences.
"The concern to law enforcement is that decriminalization will make marijuana more readily available and get into the hands of young people who will then potentially experiment with other drugs above and beyond class D marijuana," Hussey said.
Jenn Abelson can be reached at abelson@globe.com.
By Jenn Abelson, Globe Staff
The Boston Globe
Support for relaxing marijuana laws
Voters south of Boston overwhelmingly supported measures to decriminalize marijuana, surprising some local legislators and law enforcement officials and giving a boost to the drug-law reform movement spreading across the state.
The proposals to decriminalize marijuana and legalize the drug for medical use won by huge margins in all 10 area towns that voted on one or the other of the two initiatives, according to results from nonbinding ballot questions on the Nov. 2 ballot. The ratio of victory was more than 2-to-1 in nine of the communities.
Backers of the local effort to rewrite drug laws say they hope the results, which were mirrored in other communities across the state, will persuade lawmakers to embrace the proposed policy changes and help push Massachusetts closer to passing permanent legislation that makes possession of marijuana a less
The proposals to decriminalize marijuana and legalize the drug for medical use won by huge margins in all 10 area towns that voted on one or the other of the two initiatives, according to results from nonbinding ballot questions on the Nov. 2 ballot. The ratio of victory was more than 2-to-1 in nine of the communities.
Backers of the local effort to rewrite drug laws say they hope the results, which were mirrored in other communities across the state, will persuade lawmakers to embrace the proposed policy changes and help push Massachusetts closer to passing permanent legislation that makes possession of marijuana a less serious offense.
"The numbers are only getting larger and larger and more in our favor," said John Leonard of Hingham, who collected signatures to get the marijuana questions on the Nov. 2 ballot in three area House districts, the Third and Seventh Plymouth and the Sixth Norfolk.
"If the Legislature doesn't get it together soon, a binding initiative will be the only way to go."
Since 2000, the Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts and other groups have initiated efforts to put the public policy questions before communities and give proof to the Legislature that people want to lessen the penalties for those caught with small amounts of the drug. Supporters of the cause say too much time and money are spent prosecuting people holding marijuana that, in some cases, is critical for easing pain for people battling serious illnesses.
Some opponents of the decriminalization efforts contend that voters were not informed about the ballot questions and are unaware of the harmful effects of marijuana. Other law enforcement officials south of Boston argue that marijuana is a gateway drug and that lifting the criminal penalties would increase access to the substance for youths. Also, despite the success of the ballot initiatives, some local lawmakers still seem reluctant to touch the issue.
According to the latest poll results, voters in the Third Plymouth District, which covers Cohasset, Hingham, Hull, and part of Scituate, backed the decriminalization initiative by a combined vote of 15,188 to 6,949. The nonbinding question asked whether the state representatives from the district should be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would make the possession of less than an ounce of marijuana a civil violation, subject to a maximum fine of $100, and not subject to any criminal penalties.
Currently, the maximum penalty for first-time offenders is six months in a house of correction and/or a $500 fine. Repeat offenders are subject to a maximum of two years in a house of correction and/or a $2,000 fine, and the potential loss of their driver's license.
In the Sixth Norfolk District, which covers Avon, Canton, and part of Stoughton, voters offered sizable support for the legalization of marijuana for medical use: 10,782 in favor of and 4,500 against the measure. The ballot question asked whether the district's state representative should be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would allow seriously ill patients, with their doctor's written recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for medicinal use.
The same question received similar support in the Seventh Plymouth District, which covers Abington, East Bridgewater, and Whitman. In these three towns, residents backed the medical marijuana-use initiative by a vote of 13,756 to 5,882.
The movement to decriminalize marijuana in Massachusetts comes as other states across the country take up the issue. On Nov. 2, Montana became the 10th state to stop the arrest and prosecution of people who use marijuana for medical purpose.
Opponents of decriminalization are not backing down.
"There is only great potential for bad and harm with marijuana," said Lea Pallaria Cox, president of Concerned Citizens for Drug Prevention Inc., a group based in Hanover. "There are no benefits. Any mention of medical is totally ridiculous and unfounded."
Cox said the ballot proposals sound innocuous because they are nonbinding and voters do not truly grasp the ramifications of decriminalizing marijuana. The prevention group usually tries to campaign against these ballot measures, but Cox conceded: "I learned about it very late. I did drop the ball."
In Hingham, Leonard said he hoped the resounding victory for the questions would send a message to state Representative Garrett Bradley, who has expressed opposition in the past, that his constituents support change.
Bradley declined to be interviewed and would not make any formal comments on the issue, said a legislative aide, Stephen Burm. The Democratic lawmaker is "still reviewing the results of the election as well as the legislation and the ballot question," he said.
Representative William C. Galvin, who represents the Sixth Plymouth District, said he was somewhat surprised by the overwhelming majority in his district that favors the legalization of marijuana for medical use.
The Canton Democrat said he also voted for the measure.
"If it's a critically ill person and the marijuana will help alleviate the pain, I don't see anything wrong with that," Galvin said.
Still, Galvin is not planning to take the lead on pushing drug reform legislation and said he has not taken a position on the other measure, to make the possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana a civil violation.
Cohasset Police Chief Jim Hussey said he believes that the maximum penalties are rarely imposed and that most offenders are handed lenient sentences.
"The concern to law enforcement is that decriminalization will make marijuana more readily available and get into the hands of young people who will then potentially experiment with other drugs above and beyond class D marijuana," Hussey said.
Jenn Abelson can be reached at abelson@globe.com.
By Jenn Abelson, Globe Staff
The Boston Globe
Support for relaxing marijuana laws
