cannabisnews.com: Mass. Marijuana Measure Draws Heat





Mass. Marijuana Measure Draws Heat
Posted by CN Staff on September 18, 2008 at 06:21:36 PT
By Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press
Source: Providence Journal
Boston, MA -- Backers of a pro-marijuana ballot initiative charged yesterday that 11 district attorneys from Massachusetts violated campaign-finance laws and twisted the truth about the question.Whitney Taylor, of the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy, said the DAs raised and spent money to oppose the question before forming their Coalition to Save Our Streets. Campaign-finance laws require groups to form a committee before raising and spending money.
Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone brushed aside the group’s criticism, calling it a “ploy” to distract attention from critics of the ballot question.Leone attended a rally on the steps of the State House yesterday with other district attorneys, police, clergy and community organizers to call for the measure’s defeat.“I’m not sure what the proponents of this question were smoking when they brought this to our state,” said the Rev. Jeffrey Brown. “We don’t need more weed.”The question would make possession of an ounce or less of marijuana a civil rather than criminal offense, punishable by a $100 fine.Opponents say such a change in law would essentially normalize the use of marijuana, while supporters say it would reduce a burden on the criminal-justice system by sparing those found with small amounts from facing a criminal record and jail.Taylor’s group has filed complaints with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance and the attorney general’s office, and against the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association and the public-relations firm hired to handle opposition to the question.“This was an attempt to keep their organization as covert as they could for as long a possible,” Taylor said. The group also named Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett and Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz individually.Taylor said state records show the district attorneys began raising money as early as July 18, but didn’t file a statement of organization with the state until Sept. 5.An official from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance said the Coalition to Save Our Streets was originally formed as a political action committee that the district attorneys used to oppose Question 2. They changed their status to a ballot question committee on Sept. 5, after being informed that they needed to make the switch.Taylor’s group has raised far greater sums than the district attorneys’ group, according to campaign finance reports.The district attorneys raised just $27,670, virtually all of it from their own campaign accounts, while Taylor’s group has raised nearly $650,000.The vast majority of the money raised by Taylor’s group came from outside Massachusetts, including a $400,000 donation from billionaire financier and liberal activist George Soros and $180,000 from the Washington D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project.Taylor also faulted the district attorneys for using their state Web site to urge voters to oppose the question, and for misrepresenting the initiative.In a statement on the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association Web site, the district attorneys say if the question is approved “any person may carry and use marijuana at any time.”Taylor said if the question passed, possession of marijuana would still be illegal and anyone carrying or using marijuana would face a $100 fine.Leone called Taylor’s accusations “a weak ploy to try to derail the public’s attention” about the negative fallout if the question failed. He said district attorneys are free to use money from their campaign accounts to support or oppose ballot questions.At the rally, speakers said easing penalties would threaten recent positive trends in marijuana use among teens. They also said there’s a link between marijuana use and crime, car accidents and workplace safety.“The same people dealing drugs now will be dealing drugs in the future, except they will have fewer obstacles,” said Suffolk District Attorney Dan Conley. “Why would we put another monkey on society’s back?”The district attorneys also said that existing law is fair.Massachusetts law requires first-time drug offenders be placed on probation and that, at the successful conclusion of probation, “the case shall be dismissed and the record shall be sealed.”If the question is approved, Massachusetts would become the 13th state to lift or ease criminal penalties on marijuana possession. Source: Providence Journal, The (RI)Author: Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press Published: Thursday, September 18, 2008Copyright: 2008 The Providence Journal CompanyContact: letters projo.comWebsite: http://www.projo.com/Related Article:Officials Unite To Fight Marijuana Initiativehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24168.shtmlCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by ekim on September 18, 2008 at 20:00:26 PT
how does this law effect loosing u drivers licence
seems that not even driving will get it taken away.the law needs to be looked and levels set.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on September 18, 2008 at 14:30:04 PT
News 10 Marijuana Decriminalization Poll
Are you in favor of decriminalizing possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, for personal use?Current Results:Yes -- 75% No -- 25% Please Vote: http://www.turnto10.com/northeast/jar/home.html
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Comment #4 posted by OverwhelmSam on September 18, 2008 at 13:17:56 PT
As It Occurs to Me, Why not Sue DEA
You know since the Telecoms are immune now the EFF is suing the NSA, Bush and Chenney directly for illegal wiretapping.Since the 9th federal appeals court correctly ruled that the DEA can not subvert state laws under the 10th ammendment, why aren't Safer Access and other organizations (MPP, NORML) et. al. suing the DEA for violation of the constitution and civil rights? 
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Comment #3 posted by museman on September 18, 2008 at 09:05:41 PT
give it back
Give the country back to its real 'owners.' All those false 'offices' and false 'authorities' occupy positions that are illegal in almost every sense, especially considering the unethical and immoral actions that are justified under their 'watch.'True power is given, not taken, enforced, or forced upon people. True authority is recognized and respected, not legislated and appointed by cronies. True freedom is expressed, and lived, not argued in the state house.True peace and prosperity is shared amongst all the people, not reserved for exclusive clubs and cliques.Truth itself is not limited to 'published works' particularly when those authors -in a prevailing ass-kiss attitude towards the status quo- are all clones of the same social and spiritual ignorance that is destroying all good things on earth in the name of 'profit' and 'progress.' Truth existed before mankind ever looked at it, and no one man, or group of men, regardless of their 'credentials' has exclusive access to it. That erroneous belief has caused enough perpetuated stupidity as it is.We are bound to serve the false precepts of this society, only when we BELIEVE in them. People need to learn to re-invest their beliefs into higher aspects than the materialistic if they really want change. But the solution to Amerika is simple; give it back to the people. Sooner or later the people will be left while the pretense is only dust and memories, why wait?FREE MARIJUANA FOR EVERYONE
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Comment #2 posted by HempWorld on September 18, 2008 at 08:13:20 PT
Citizens foot the bill for the legislature to camp
aign against them."a rally on the steps of the State House yesterday with other district attorneys, police, clergy and community organizers" On taxpayers' time I suppose, weren't these people supposed to work for the people instead of organizing against them while using the people's money? As this was a regular work day?"district attorneys for using their state Web site to urge voters to oppose the question, and for misrepresenting the initiative"Wait, I'm confused, is it 'their' website or is it paid for by the taxpayers and hence it should not be abused by organizing against taxpayers AND by misrepresenting the facts, a double whammy!What we see here is a very bold abuse of funds and trust by the very people who are supposed to represent us, not!
On a mission from God!
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Comment #1 posted by potpal on September 18, 2008 at 07:58:10 PT
collect and search
The role of an leo. “The same people dealing drugs now will be dealing drugs in the future, except they will have fewer obstacles,” said Suffolk District Attorney Dan Conley. “Why would we put another monkey on society’s back?” Yeah, the Rite-aids and CVS's and Long's is that what he means? The Coalition to Save our Streets is a pimple on society's ass...
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