Posted on 02/17/2006 7:09:46 PM PST by Know your rights
Setting up a conflict with the Romney administration, lawmakers on Monday advanced a longstanding Beacon Hill proposal to decriminalize the possession of enough marijuana for teens to roll dozens of joints. Approved 6-1 by the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee, the proposal would change the penalty for possessing marijuana to a $250 civil fine for anyone caught with less than an ounce of the drug, regardless of age. In addition, parents of those 18 years and younger would be notified of the infraction. Currently, someone convicted of such an offense can be sent to jail for up to six months for the crime and pay a $500 fine for a first offense.
According to Lea Palleria Cox of Concerned Citizens for Drug Prevention Inc. and a bill opponent, an ounce of marijuana equals roughly 57 joints. The issue has been a source of contention for years in the Legislature, with the late Sen. Charles Shannon as its biggest advocate. Lawmakers in the past have included a similar provision in the budget, only to have it vetoed by former Acting Gov. Jane Swift. Gov. Mitt Romney is also a likely opponent to the proposal; Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey has expressed her opposition to proposal, saying it could treat marijuana lightly under the law, and Romney's spokesman said lawmakers should remain tough on drugs.
"Governor Romney believes we should enforce the laws against drugs, and that we be should be careful not to suggest that we are softening our view on marijuana use," Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney's director of communications, said in a statement. "It is important that we continue to send a message to young people that drugs are bad for you."
But advocates of decriminalization say the 11 other states that have taken a similar path, including California, New York, and Nebraska, have seen no negative affects, and point to the results of non-binding ballot questions in 2000, 2002, and 2004 when 63 percent of voters supported the initiative in 19 Massachusetts legislative districts. Being pushed by the Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts, advocates cite a 2002 report by Boston University Economist, Jeffrey Miron that estimated marijuana possession arrests and court processing costs for the state at $24.3 million a year. Committee Co-Chairwoman Rep. Ruth Balser (D-Newton) said kids who are caught with marijuana often lose their chance at going to college because they have a criminal record.
"We don't want to ruin someone's life because of a stupid mistake," she said. "We're not saying it's a good thing to use marijuana," added Sen. Steven Tolman (D-Brighton) co-chairman of the committee. "But it could ruin a kid's future." Rep. Brian Wallace (D-South Boston) the lone opponent during today's committee vote, said the use of alcohol and marijuana often leads to the use of more harmful and addictive drugs, and for that reason, believes the penalties should remain tough. Other opponents agree that marijuana is a gateway to other drugs and is sending the wrong message to teenagers.
"This flies in the face of trying to keep young people off drugs," said William Breault of the Main South Alliance for Public Safety in Worcester. "But this is what we have to deal with now with this liberal state government."
bump.. securing popcorn and beer for this one ;)
Same reason that punishments for other crimes are dispensed by judges and not parents. Unless one is a Kennedy.
Judges should punish real crimes with actual victims, like Mary Jo Kopechne. Victimless youth "crimes" should be punished at parents' discretion.
Then your argument is that laws should be changed, not which authorities are charged with punishing whom.
Every stoner east of the Mississippi will flock to Mass, increasing the IQ of both places.
The arguments made here are worthy, but this is MA after all. I suggest a rewriting of the state constitution and reducing it to one phrase consisting of two words---Anything goes.
Having done that, they can then dismiss their judges, lawyers, law enforcement people, prison guards, etc.
Only think of all the money saved on trials, prisons, police and such. Teddy and company would be comfortable ad any dissenters can join us redstaters.
vaudine
The two are not mutually exclusive.
Anything that violates nobody else's rights goes.
any dissenters can join us redstaters.
That's federalism as established by our Founding Fathers. I'm all for it ... are you?
Except those in states like Ohio, which also don't treat marijuana possession as a serious crime.
In PA, possession of marijuana in the amount of 30 grams or less is a misdeameanor and considered a low-grade crime like getting a speeding ticket. Has been for about 20 years.
But that hasn't stopped the college kids from overdosing on alcohol and dying. We get a few of those a year.
Which can't happen with marijuana.
We get a few of those a year.
Alcohol is the real gateway drug.
No one has ever been recorded as dying from the physiological effects of marijuana.
The Journal of the American Medical Association, Jan. 19, 2005, Vol. 293, No. 3, p. 298, reported on the leading causes of death in the United States:
Tobacco (435,000 deaths; 18.1% of total US deaths)
Poor diet and physical inactivity (400,000 deaths; 16.6%)
Alcohol consumption (85,000 deaths; 3.5%)
Presumably that's next on the "strong government conservatives'" hit list.
They are already gearing up to attack food. Physical inactivity has been condemmed since JFK was president, but not real strongly...yet!
Our keepers think they know what is best for us. Eating certain foods that they do not want you to eat will become a crime. Not exercising will become a crime.
I have no desire to live in such a world.
How can alcohol be blamed for 100,000 deaths each year?
5% of all deaths from diseases of the circulatory system are attributed to alcohol.
15% of all deaths from diseases of the respiratory system are attributed to alcohol.
30% of all deaths from accidents caused by fire and flames are attributed to alcohol.
30% of all accidental drownings are attributed to alcohol.
30% of all suicides are attributed to alcohol.
40% of all deaths due to accidental falls are attributed to alcohol.
45% of all deaths in automobile accidents are attributed to alcohol.
60% of all homicides are attributed to alcohol.
(Sources: NIDA Report, the Scientific American and Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario.) Also see Alcohol Consumption and Mortality, Alcohol poisoning deaths, CDC report,
100,000 deaths. That's more than a statistic. That is 100,000 individuals with faces. 100,000 individuals with lives not fully lived. 100,000 individuals grieved by mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and children. Every year.
Despite the fact that I am a proud pot smoker, I think it's very reasonable for the state to set age limits for those of us who use marijuana responsibly. A minimum age of 21 sounds good to me re: marijuana.
It should be the same as the age to drink, IMHO.
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