cannabisnews.com: Officials Hurry To Hash Out New Marijuana Law





Officials Hurry To Hash Out New Marijuana Law
Posted by CN Staff on November 06, 2008 at 06:46:53 PT
By Jessica Van Sack
Source: Boston Herald
Massachusetts -- Now that voters have decided that carrying small amounts of pot shouldn’t be a crime, public safety officials are scrambling to determine how to make that happen.Gov. Deval Patrick yesterday directed Public Safety Secretary Kevin M. Burke to work with Attorney General Martha Coakley to determine how to implement Question 2, including whether a new mini-bureaucracy is necessary to oversee the doling out of citations to those caught with an ounce or less of pot.
“Question 2’s passage not only authorizes the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana, but also establishes a parallel civil regulatory structure that does not currently exist,” Coakley said. “At this time, we are reviewing all of the implications of the new law and whether further clarification or guidance is needed.”Under the new law, pot is still illegal, but getting caught with up to an ounce of weed is only a civil infraction. The penalty isn’t jail, but a $100 fine. And if the offender is under 18, a drug awareness course and parental notification are required.Officials have yet to figure out how much money the new measure could cost, though advocates argue it will save money associated with marijuana arrests.Also unanswered is how cops will determine the weight of the weed in question.Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis, who opposed the measure along with droves of other law enforcment officials, said yesterday officers already routinely summons small-time tokers to court in lieu of arresting them.“I’m really concerned about the effects the use of marijuana already has on the significant problem of motor vehicle impairment,” Davis said.Coakley said she expects the law to go into effect in late December or January.Source: Boston Herald (MA)Author:   Jessica Van Sack Published: Thursday, November 6, 2008 Copyright: 2008 The Boston Herald, Inc.Website: http://www.bostonherald.com/Contact: letterstoeditor bostonherald.comRelated Articles & Web Site:Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policyhttp://www.sensiblemarijuanapolicy.org/ Initiatives Provoke Ire, Joyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24287.shtmlOfficials Look for Guidelines on MJ Initiativehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24286.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by rchandar on November 06, 2008 at 23:20:16 PT:
Guys, Guys, Guys...
I know this s #t has got you p ##sed. But look at the history--no state has gone decrim since the 1970s. These cops and DAs will pull up every emotional smokescreen and will complain like b #tches to convince whoever's in charge there that this cannot work.Decrim remains the elusive goal--it sets a precedent for drug policy. Face it, most of the arrests for MJ are state cases--people will lose their jobs and their unrestricted moral authority over a community. Cops cannot afford that, usually--they are seldom well-educated. Becoming a cop means that you couldn't succeed at any other profession, but expect society to acclaim you for being a moral person. Whoever is in the Massachusetts Legislature that is in favor of this measure--and who would oversee its success, we need to find out more about what s/he could do, what we could argue in the committee meetings--where these cops and DAs will pull out all the stops. MJ activists, when brought into this setting, are usually very well-researched and skilled, but that's often not trusted--it's easy to preach morals, people respect you for being "plain and honest," that virtue is simple. Enter said cops: it's the moral catastrophe that will rape and destroy the minds of our children.No, I doubt this will be easy. But it failed in Texas last year. If we're going to move forward, we have to aggressively attack the credibility of these people. There are many ways--there are a lot of corrupt cops in Mass, probably in Boston. There's a huge amount of press that could be exploited in Boston especially, but also in small communities. The usual--cops who sell drugs, cops who accept bribes, cops who abuse their power or profile minorities. All of this has to become front page news again. Not just here--in their press. If you can, do that work. This is a precedent--it hasn't happened in a long time, and if this is successful other states will follow--slowly, though.--rchandar
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Comment #5 posted by Sam Adams on November 06, 2008 at 13:00:59 PT
urban policing
Sorry if I'm a little peeved at the Boston Police dept (btw the Commish is appointed, not elected). You wouldn't believe how corrupt this city and state are!Urban policing in the USA is a joke. Basically, up until the 50's and 60's, city police walked the beat - all day. "call the police" meant merely yelling out, and one would come in an instant. This is how crime was PREVENTED! In the 50's the whole system broke down. Blacks began moving into many neighborhoods that had been Irish and Italian and other white immigrants. The political machine that had taken care of these immigrants and their neighborhoods refused to accept blacks and ignored them, the whole system broke down rapidly.Around this time cars became ubiquitous, and a major change in police policy occurred. Now cops all sat inside, at the police station, waiting for crime to be reported. Then they would jump in their car and drive to the scene.
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on November 06, 2008 at 10:13:42 PT
Sam Adams
You have plenty of reason for your attitude. We all do. These officials that are elected and are all about politics would be wise to consider the "spirit" of this ballot when they are considering asking to be re-elected at some point in the future.
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Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on November 06, 2008 at 09:58:36 PT
thank you very much
"Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis, who opposed the measure along with droves of other law enforcment officials, said yesterday officers already routinely summons small-time tokers to court in lieu of arresting them."Good for you! Now you can't summon us to court either, dickhead.
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Comment #2 posted by Hope on November 06, 2008 at 08:16:24 PT
Dropping present charges?
"... wants to honor the spirit of the ballot initiative".Surely that's a good thing and may he realize blessings from his decision... which blesses many, me included... just to know it.Thank you, William M. Bennett. It's good to see that you have a sense of mercy and respect for the citizens you serve.
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Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on November 06, 2008 at 06:58:16 PT
Time to Declare Victory!!!
As a man sow, shall he reapAnd I know that talk is cheap.But the harder the battleAh the sweeter Jah victory!Hampden County D.A. to drop all small marijuana possession charges, in wake of Tuesday's election
by The Republican Newsroom
Wednesday November 05, 2008, 8:06 PMBOSTON - A day after voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question to decriminalize marijuana, Hampden District Attorney William M. Bennett said Wednesday that he will drop all pending charges of possessing an ounce or less of marijuana and will no longer prosecute new cases.Bennett said he wants to honor the spirit of the ballot initiative, which makes possession of an ounce or less of marijuana punishable with a civil fine of $100. The law will take effect in late December or early January, officials said."I'm going to act as if the law were in effect now," said Bennett, who campaigned against the ballot question and said he hopes the results don't send the wrong message.http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/hampden_county_da_to_drop_all.html?category=Politicshttp://www.masslive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2008/11/the_road_ahead_has_many_turns.html
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