cannabisnews.com: Should Possessing Pot Not Be a Crime?





Should Possessing Pot Not Be a Crime?
Posted by CN Staff on October 24, 2002 at 08:49:33 PT
By Cherie Hoyt
Source: Town Online
Advocates of change in the Commonwealth's marijuana laws have not let their relative success in the 2000 election go up in smoke. Instead they've plowed on, and have planted four different non-binding public policy questions about pot laws in 20 different state representative districts for this fall's election.
Boxford voters in Precinct 2, now part of the new 18th Essex Representative District which includes parts of Andover, Georgetown, Haverhill, Methuen, and North Andover, will be voting Nov. 5 on a public policy ballot question that asks if possession of marijuana should be a civil violation instead of a crime.In the 2000 election, 64 percent of voters in all of Boxford, then in the 4th Essex District, said they would be in favor of decriminalizing possession of pot for personal use."It's worth a try to decriminalize marijuana," said Boxford Police Chief Gordon Russell in an interview this week. He said he has given a great deal of thought to the issue."As a law enforcement officer I don't approve of jamming a person up for his whole life, legally speaking, for possession of a marijuana joint," he said.He cited cases of people 40 or 50 years old who are still having their youthful mistakes "thrown in their faces" for possession of pot, which until the early 1970's was a felony, not a misdemeanor as it is today. He does not in any way advocate marijuana use, however. The non-binding question The wording of the 2002 non-binding ballot question is the same as in 2000: "Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to introduce and vote for legislation making possession of marijuana a civil violation, like a traffic ticket instead of a criminal offense, and requiring the police to hold a person under 18 who is cited for possession until the person is released to a parent or legal guardian or brought before a judge? "Reducing marijuana possession to a civil offense could save taxpayers millions of dollars otherwise wastefully spent on arresting, prosecuting, defending, and punishing marijuana users, according to Attorney Steve Epstein of Georgetown, who gathered signatures to put the question on the ballot."Marijuana use can be sufficiently discouraged, like speeding on our roads, by citation and civil fines," Epstein wrote in a prepared statement. He pointed out that decriminalization is not the same as legalization."The anticipated legislation would not disturb current law prohibiting the distribution or growing of marijuana, or operation of motor vehicles under the influence of marijuana," he said.Epstein is a founding member of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, which is affiliated with the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. According to the organization's Web site, eleven states have already partially decriminalized possession of marijuana.The coalition's efforts in 2000 led to ballot questions on decriminalizing marijuana that garnered the support of about two-thirds of voters in the districts in which they were introduced. This year four questions will be asked in 20 districts around the state, including one in western Massachusetts that asks if growing pot for personal use should be allowed.Epstein argues that not prosecuting pot smokers would result in greater public safety because police officers would be freed from the tasks of booking, writing reports and appearing in court for low-level offenders, and would thus have more time to spend "on the street." He says we will live in a safer society when probation officers can focus on rehabilitating people who have "committed crimes against persons and property."Supporters of a "yes" vote on the ballot question call marijuana reform a moral issue, saying it is wrong that the current law makes otherwise law-abiding citizens and sick people who use marijuana medicinally into criminals. They argue that much harm is done to families when a breadwinner gets a criminal record, or a student becomes ineligible for federally guaranteed student loans, instead of paying a civil fine for possession of pot. How would the candidates vote? The prospective legislators in 18th Essex District differ in their approach to the decriminalization of marijuana if voters say yes to Ballot Question 4.Kathy Sachs (R-Georgetown) said, "If the majority of the voters favor this, I'd go along because I believe in the citizen referendum process." She said she has not spoken with law enforcement officials about the ballot question, but makes the point, "We spend a lot of time making arrests that take more time than issuing a ticket. We feel the strain in a growing town. If it would free up officers' time, there's something to be said for it."Al DePietro (I-Georgetown) said he would support legislation limiting the amount of pot someone could possess."If it's small amounts, it should be treated like that, with police giving a ticket," he said. "But if it's anything to do with drug dealing, it should be a criminal offense."Barbara L' Italien (D-Andover) has still another take on the subject."I honestly think there are far more important things for the legislature to deal with," she said. "And it is non-binding," she added. Although she is in favor of the medicinal use of marijuana, and she understands the intent of supporters who feel that the courts are overburdened, she said, "I'd be worried that we might be sending the wrong message to kids, who are apt to want to try it anyway, but who might be more apt to try it if all they'd get is a slap on the wrist."Complete Title: Should Possessing Pot Not Be a Crime? -  Residents in Boxford 18th Essex District May Cast Their VoteSource: TownOnline.com (MA)Author: Cherie HoytPublished: Wednesday, October 23, 2002Copyright: 2002 TownOnline.com Website: http://www.townonline.com/Contact: http://www.hiasys.com/contactus/contactus.htmlRelated Articles & Web Site:MassCannhttp://www.masscann.org/Ballot To Include Pot Question http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13903.shtmlS. Shore Voters To Face Pot Questionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13900.shtmlMarijuana Questions On Ballothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13760.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by delariand on October 24, 2002 at 12:03:39 PT
amen to that
The dealers are the saints and the governments are the devils and nobody else realizes it ;)
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Comment #1 posted by knox42897 on October 24, 2002 at 10:25:34 PT:
what's the difference?
If it's small amounts, it should be treated like that, with police giving a ticket," he said. "But if it's anything to do with drug dealing, it should be a criminal offense."I hate this argument, The poor guy with one joint should not be conidered a criminal bt his poor dealer should be crucified. This is non-sense! My MJ dealer is a great guy, honest, trust worthy and caring. My MJ dealer should not go to any prison and should not persecuted for any crime involving cannabis. In fact we need a national holiday honoring all the MJ dealers who have the balls to provide this sacred herb in the fight with the nazi drug terrorists.LAS VEGAS NEVADANS FOR RESPOSIBLE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN AMERICA
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