cannabisnews.com: It’s Still Illegal: Pot Puffing Rules Unnecessary










  It’s Still Illegal: Pot Puffing Rules Unnecessary

Posted by CN Staff on December 31, 2008 at 06:25:11 PT
Editorial 
Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette 

Massachusetts -- In the wake of the ballot initiative that decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana, authorities now are weighing the need for laws to control use of the drug. Just as Question 2 was a solution in search of a problem, passing local laws to curb behavior that already is illegal strikes us as redundant. To a majority of voters in November, making possession of one ounce or less of marijuana for personal use a civil infraction seemed a good idea.
Time may yet prove them right. Nonetheless, the state’s Executive Office of Public Safety and Security this week urged local officials to consider enacting rules that would make public marijuana smoking a civil infraction, punishable with fines. The concern is that some “liberated” pot users may choose to light up in public and defy authorities to do their worst — which can be no more than a civil fine of $100 and community service. This may be precisely the kind of “wrong message” that passage of Question 2 was bound to send, but officials should take time out before raising the stakes. The fact is, Question 2 changed little. Before the initiative was passed, almost no one was prosecuted and ultimately branded with a criminal record for simple marijuana possession, and it is unlikely many more will face civil sanctions for such behavior now. Moreover, while the new law decriminalizes marijuana possession, it does not legalize it. Lighting a joint in public and getting caught will result, at minimum, in confiscation and a fine. Police still may arrest perpetrators for any accompanying crimes, or conduct searches based on probable cause. Sharing marijuana with a friend can still be classified as distribution, for which there may be significant criminal penalties upon conviction. The supporters of Question 2 assured Massachusetts voters that decriminalization of marijuana possession would not lead to any increase in usage, never mind a spike in conspicuous public consumption. Until and unless those assurances prove to be wrong, we suggest local authorities focus on more pressing public safety concerns. Complete Title: It’s Still Illegal: More Public Pot Puffing Rules UnnecessarySource: Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA)Published: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 Copyright: 2008 Worcester Telegram & GazetteContact: letters telegram.comWebsite: http://www.telegram.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/iJ7o2A8yRelated Articles:Pot Law Will Go Into Effect on Schedulehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24388.shtmlJoint Move To Target Public Pot Smokinghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24387.shtml

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Comment #13 posted by Hope on December 31, 2008 at 21:46:30 PT

It's already 2009 for you, FoM,
and many others. Still got about fifteen minutes of 2008 left here.Happy New Year everyone!
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on December 31, 2008 at 21:44:05 PT

afterburner
Happy New Year. I'm calling it a day but I wanted to say that I agree with you about love. 
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Comment #11 posted by afterburner on December 31, 2008 at 21:28:23 PT

Some Me Relatives Need Healing Power of Cannabis
With all the wine and pharma-swarma many have severe arthritis and difficulty walking, cane and wheel chairs. They need the healing & balancing EFAs in hemp seed. The stimulating THC and the soothing CBDs. I'm not waiting anymore.The fireworks in front of NY's UN Building make it look like they are blowing up the UN. "Oh, the humanity."I still remember 2000 New Years with the multitude of cultures all around the world all sharing their best pageants with each other. Believe, the world is choosing to live, the populators are choosing to love. To love to live. Make love not war. Make love. Bake love. Shake love.There is more love in the world than the capacity of human receptors to link to it all. Love sustains us and inspires us and guides us to the truth the light justice fairness.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on December 31, 2008 at 21:28:17 PT

BGreen 
Happy New Year. I hope that too. I know that in a week or so I will be mentally gearing up for January 20th. That will be a day in history like no one has seen before. I'm glad we have a really smart man taking over the reins. It's going to be a bumpy ride but worth it to me.
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Comment #9 posted by BGreen on December 31, 2008 at 21:03:20 PT

Happy New Year!!
I hope the next year treats us all better.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on December 31, 2008 at 20:51:51 PT

fight_4_freedom and afterburner
Happy New Year. I am really looking forward to the New Year. The economy is a mess but people seem more real these days. I don't like living in a world filled with plastic people. I like real people like all of you.PS: fight_4_freedom, I'm sorry about the alcohol problem. Oh demon alcohol sad thing is I can't recall or something close to that.
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Comment #7 posted by afterburner on December 31, 2008 at 20:38:33 PT

gumption 
That world reminds me of my grandma. Happy New Year. Enjoy the Leap Second of 2008. Waiting to inhale. Cha cha cha. 
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Comment #6 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 31, 2008 at 20:36:14 PT

I'm already back from a New Year's Eve Party
which ended early because of a big fight (caused by alcohol).So I guess I'll start the new year off by kissing mary jane instead of an actual woman. Oh well....There's always next year.It's been one hell of a year everybody. I'm really glad to be a part of this movement. This year will always stick out in my mind. The Year of Change!Happy New Year FoM, Hope, and everybody else here at C-News.Let's make this new year better than the last! 
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on December 31, 2008 at 19:53:22 PT

Happy New Year!
I think it's going to be a good one, too.Be happy and stay safe.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 31, 2008 at 19:49:30 PT

observer
We had friends in tonight and had a really good time. We played cards and even Scrabble. We laughed and now are settling in at our own homes to watch the New Year ring in. I wouldn't trade my New Years Eve with anyones. I am worried about the problems that we have in the world and in our country but I believe we will draw from deep inside ourselves and find the gumption to push on.Happy New Year and Amen back at ya!
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Comment #3 posted by observer on December 31, 2008 at 18:00:40 PT

Stay Safe!
I hope everyone is having a nice holiday season. I'm looking forward to this coming New Year. Stay safe and have a great time tonight.Amen, FoM! An evening at home enjoying a little cannabis is so much safer than driving esp. on crazy nights like new years' eve. O how I wish people would use cannabis more, and drive cars, less. Cannabis has never hurt my kinfolk, but cars have dispatched quite a few of them. 
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Comment #2 posted by NikoKun on December 31, 2008 at 10:39:46 PT

Another fool trying to write against question 2.
Clueless is the only word I can think to describe this author.
And this:
"Just as Question 2 was a solution in search of a problem"
Proves his ignorance. I just couldn't take the rest of the article seriously after that. -_-I might add that not only was most of that not true... But they also provided no real reason for denying question 2, or against decriminalization.They think things are just fine... They are blind to the problems caused by Prohibition... And as long as they think that, they wont support changing it. -_-
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on December 31, 2008 at 06:29:04 PT

Just a Note
I hope everyone is having a nice holiday season. I'm looking forward to this coming New Year. Stay safe and have a great time tonight.
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