cannabisnews.com: Marijuana is Still Illegal





Marijuana is Still Illegal
Posted by CN Staff on November 20, 2008 at 12:47:17 PT
Editorial
Source: Tufts Daily 
Massachusetts -- On the night of Nov. 4, in the midst of the various festivities at Tufts commemorating the election of Barack Obama, some students found something else to celebrate. Instead of -- or maybe just before -- heading to one of the impromptu Obama rallies, they lit up their joints and smoked away in honor of the passage of Question 2.These students smoked with a noticeable lack of discretion, believing they no longer had to fear the big, bad Five-O. While this sort of conduct might not jam offenders up with a felony anymore, that does not equate to a free pass.
Question 2 was an initiated state statute that, with its successful passage, decriminalized in Massachusetts the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. What does that mean, anyway? No, marijuana is not now legal. It is decriminalized, which means that possession no longer carries criminal penalties. Instead, marijuana possession now comes complete civil punishments. If Joe Potsmoker is caught with up to one ounce of Mary Jane, he will receive a $100 civil citation as long as he is at least 18. If he is under that age, however, in addition to the fine, he will also have to go through a drug awareness program (or pay a steeper fine).But the laws set forth by Question 2 have yet to take effect; no change will be made until 30 days after the Governor's Council certifies the election results. As a result, for the time being, marijuana possession still carries the same criminal consequences as before Election Day (a $500 fine and/or up to six months in jail).The other issue to look at is what Question 2 means for police officers. While specific guidelines regarding citations have yet to be sent down to local officers, the expectation is that they will be similar to traffic violations. This means that they will likely provide much less paperwork for police officers than, say, arresting someone for a felony. While police officers may have, in the past, looked the other way and given just a warning to someone caught with marijuana, now they may be much more likely to dole out that citation.Now we come to Tufts' own policies regarding marijuana, which will remain largely the same. Tufts University Police Department Officers have always shied away from arresting students for marijuana possession and are not particularly relevant in the realm of criminal charges. Basically, possession of marijuana will continue to be treated roughly the same as illegal possession of alcohol.Marijuana is still illegal. To not treat it as such could leave students with more problems than they expected. They would be wise to think twice the next time before deciding to light up a joint on the sidewalk next to a TUPD car. While it might not earn them a pair of handcuffs, there's still plenty left to jam them up.Source: Tufts Daily (MA Edu)Published: Thursday, November 20, 2008Copyright: 2008 Tufts DailyContact: letters tuftsdaily.comWebsite: http://www.tuftsdaily.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/Q5Wn03CTRelated Articles: The Grass is Always Greenerhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24318.shtmlPolice Groups Say No Point in MJ Enforcementhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24317.shtmlPutting The 'War on Drugs' Behind Barshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24309.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #9 posted by Hope on November 22, 2008 at 22:44:20 PT
:0)
Thanks, OverwhelmSam.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by OverwhelmSam on November 22, 2008 at 14:43:06 PT
LoL 
No problem Hope, but I'll remember that with a little help from our friend.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by Hope on November 21, 2008 at 05:52:34 PT
Uh oh... Sorry Overwhelm Sam.
That leaving out the h in your moniker was a typo that was in that thing that pops up when you start typing something that you've typed before and I just went with it without checking it. I may have been doing it for months! My apologies, sir.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by Hope on November 21, 2008 at 05:22:37 PT
Oh yeah...
Rampant Peace to you all! And I love you guys.Just thinking and feeling that has got to be good for me... and maybe you, and for maybe a better day, all day long, than it would have been without having thought it or related it to you.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by Hope on November 21, 2008 at 05:19:38 PT
"Peace" and "Love"
Cannabis, when consumed, either in a mist, vapor, or smoke, or as a vegetable, or herb, or supplement, often, seems to make the consumer inclined to understand "Peace" and "Love", what they really are and how important they are, a bit more, perhaps. That has to be good for the health and strength
of the body, soul, and spirit of the consumer.The opposites of Peace and Love boil and destroy and tear down the soul, the spirit, and the body.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by Hope on November 21, 2008 at 04:57:47 PT
Lol!
"I knew it all along because, I have a great memory."
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by Hope on November 21, 2008 at 04:56:52 PT
OverwelmSam
That is cool.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by OverwhelmSam on November 21, 2008 at 04:46:07 PT
Cool! Cannabis Halts Dementia
"In experiments, a marijuana-based medicine triggered the formation of new brain cells and cut inflammation linked to dementia."http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1087544/Cannabis-stop-dementia-tracks.htmlI knew it all along because, I have a great memory. LOL
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by OverwhelmSam on November 20, 2008 at 16:35:38 PT
Still Illegal
That's half the allure:Laws that enforce marijuana prohibition - $20 billion a yearGetting away with it for 35 years - priceless.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment