cannabisnews.com: S. Shore Voters To Face Pot Question





S. Shore Voters To Face Pot Question
Posted by CN Staff on August 27, 2002 at 12:12:13 PT
By Tom Benner, Patriot Ledger State House Bureau
Source: Patriot Ledger 
Boston - Voters in five South Shore communities will have the chance in November to tell their legislators whether they support liberalizing marijuana laws.A nonbinding ballot question calling for a softening of the marijuana possession law will be on the ballot in the 1st Norfolk District (parts of Randolph and Quincy), the 2nd Norfolk District (parts of Quincy), and the 5th Plymouth District (Rockland, Hanover and Norwell).
The question asks: ‘‘Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would make possession of less than one ounce of marijuana a civil violation, subject to a maximum fine of $100 and not subject to any criminal penalties?''The three districts are represented by Reps. Bruce Ayers, D-Quincy; Stephen Tobin, D-Quincy; and Robert Nyman, D-Hanover.‘‘I don't see myself supporting something like that,'' Nyman said. ‘‘It is sending the wrong message. It is a step back for society.‘‘I am the father of two daughters, age 12 and 10, and as parents and as a society we are consistently trying to tell them to make the right decision and stay away from pressures of drugs and alcohol. After all we have done to educate our young people to the dangers of drugs, whether marijuana or any other type of drug, we are sending the wrong message to young people in particular.''Nyman's Republican opponent, Joseph E. Mullin of Norwell, said he also opposes the measure.‘‘I would absolutely be against that,'' Mullin said. ‘‘I think that would lead to mayhem. There needs to be some regulations.'' Ayers and Tobin could not be reached for comment today.Statewide, voters in 20 of the 160 state representative districts will vote on nonbinding ballot questions calling for liberalizing marijuana laws, including allowing it for medical use and decriminalizing marijuana possession.The so-called ‘‘advisory'' questions were put on the ballot in districts where proponents gathered at least 200 signatures of registered voters.‘‘Politicians are really scared to vote for liberalization of the laws because they're afraid they'll be hurt at the ballot box,'' said John Leonard of Hingham, a member of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition. ‘‘This is going to show them that's not the case at all.'' Proponents say they're encouraged by new laws in Maine, New York and Ohio that remove or lessen criminal penalties for marijuana possession. Two years ago, nonbinding ballot questions in 18 cities and towns found 63 percent of voters favored decriminalizing marijuana, said Maddy Webster of Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts.As many as three nonbinding questions may be put on the general election ballot in any given representative district, said Brian McNiff of the secretary of state's office.In November, there will be 11 ‘‘advisory'' questions in 60 representative districts, including a question that calls for state representatives not to support Thomas Finneran, D-Mattapan, as House speaker. That question won't be asked on the South Shore.Because they are nonbinding, the questions have no bearing on how a representative votes on legislation.Complete Title: S. Shore Voters To Face Pot Question: November Ballot Will Ask Opinion on Softening LawsSource: The Patriot Ledger (MA)Author: Tom Benner, Patriot Ledger State House BureauPublished: Tuesday, August 27, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Patriot LedgerContact: editpage ledger.comWebsite: http://ledger.southofboston.com/Related Article & Web Site:MassCannhttp://www.masscann.org/Marijuana Questions On Ballothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13760.shtmlCannabisNews - Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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