cannabisnews.com: Teen Pot Bill Passes Teen Pot Bill Passes Posted by CN Staff on February 15, 2006 at 21:56:22 PT By Amy Lambiaso, State House News Service Source: Tewksbury Advocate Massachusetts -- Setting up a conflict with the Romney administration, lawmakers on Monday, Feb. 13, 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 bill 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." 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."Source: Tewksbury Advocate (MA)Author: Amy Lambiaso, State House News ServicePublished: Thursday, February 16, 2006 Copyright: 2006 Community Newspaper CompanyContact: reading cnc.comWebsite: http://www.townonline.com/tewksbury/Related Articles & Web Site:DPFMAhttp://www.dpfma.org/ Pot Bill Lights Up Debatehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21596.shtmlLegislative Panel Backs Bill To Decriminalize http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21593.shtmlTime for Serious Talk About Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20901.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #17 posted by FoM on February 16, 2006 at 21:24:16 PT afterburner I agree Regulate cannabis to protect the children. Stop arresting and jailing children. Stop the nanny state usurpation of parent's rights to control their own children. Stop using children as an excuse for punishing adults for using their medicine, sacrament, or social relaxant. Stop treating adults as if they are children. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by afterburner on February 16, 2006 at 21:17:17 PT 'Teen' 'Pot' Bill Passes Irresponsible 'journalism': this bill does not send the wrong message to children: "parents of those 18 years and younger would be notified of the infraction.""And these children that you spit on As they try to change their worlds Are immune to your consultations They're quite aware of what they're going through" --Changes ------David Bowie http://www.sing365.com"Hush now baby, baby, don't you cry Momma's gonna make all of your nightmares come true Momma's gonna put all of her fears into you Momma's gonna keep you right here under her wing She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing Momma's will keep Baby cozy and warm" --Artist: Pink Floyd Lyrics. Song: Mother Lyrics http://www.lyrics007.com/Pink%20Floyd%20Lyrics/Mother%20Lyrics.htmlRegulate cannabis to protect the children. Stop arresting and jailing children. Stop the nanny state usurpation of parent's rights to control their own children. Stop using children as an excuse for punishing adults for using their medicine, sacrament, or social relaxant. Stop treating adults as if they are children. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by mayan on February 16, 2006 at 17:56:29 PT Pinners According to Lea Palleria Cox of Concerned Citizens for Drug Prevention Inc. and a bill opponent, an ounce of marijuana equals roughly 57 joints.She must roll small joints! Maybe she needs some jointritis - for healthy joints! [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on February 16, 2006 at 16:56:26 PT Toker00 I am glad you agree. Sometimes as I look at drug issues deeply I allow my mind to keep going beyond legalization and there never could be legalization because someone will try to make money and sell to young people. Human nature for some folks is how to make money and undercut those in power but you can't beat that anyway you look at it. Human nature would trip it up. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Toker00 on February 16, 2006 at 16:35:39 PT FoM I agree 10000000000000000000000000000000000000%.Wage P on W. E C P N! [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on February 16, 2006 at 09:31:32 PT Toker00 The way I look at drugs in general is we have Meth in pill form. We have Heroin in pill form. Those are so closely similar to Oxycontin and Amphetamines in general they would work as a substitute for powders for those who become dependent on them. Powders aren't good for anyone. If you snort a powder you can hurt your nose by burning a hole thru it and if you shoot drugs we all know the risk there. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on February 16, 2006 at 09:17:50 PT Hope I agree. Empower parents like it should be. If parents can't keep their eyes on their own children who can or should? [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Toker00 on February 16, 2006 at 09:17:07 PT FoM Hope Excellent points. Yeah, we do have Regulation of Drugs, but like the WoSD, it is the RoSD. It simply needs to be RoD.Prohibition absolutely contributes to the Delinquacy of Minors. Prohibition is worse than Smoking, Drinking, or Drugging, in that is steers our children to all three. Regulate drugs, and stop corrupting our youth.Wage peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW! [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Hope on February 16, 2006 at 09:13:11 PT Actually it seems like families handled these problems in the past with greater success than they are having now with the government boogie man lurking over them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on February 16, 2006 at 08:56:13 PT Hope You answered my question. We do have regulated drugs but there will always be those who will try to undercut any regulations like a moonshiner. There still are moonshiners I think. Also there will always be a fight to stop people from selling drugs to a juvenile. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on February 16, 2006 at 08:52:58 PT Hope That's a very good point but what is RoD? If young people think they can sell drugs and live it up what happens when their bubble bursts? Chasing easy money is not building a solid foundation for life and it will hurt them in the long run. I wish prohibitionists understood how they are helping to create what I will call are bad children. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Hope on February 16, 2006 at 08:49:07 PT The WoD and The RoD The War on Drugs and The Regulation of Drugs. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Hope on February 16, 2006 at 08:47:11 PT Teenage drug dealers would have a definite slow down in business if the WoD ended and the RoD began.Teenage drug dealers associate with touchy, dangerous people. Teenagers who get involved in supplying drugs think of themselves, I think, as little "entrepreneurs". If the WoD ended those kids might have to go back to manual labor or babysitting as a way to raise money for that new car and it might not be as new or fancy or racy as the one they could have bought with dealing drugs...but hey, they likely would be better much better off. They can go into the yogurt business or the closet arranging business as their entrepreneurial efforts. Prohibitionist, if you really care about the vulnerable among our young... stop giving them something as tempting and profitable, and often, exiting to them, choice, as dealing drugs. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by GreenJoy on February 16, 2006 at 07:44:21 PT The Media For the most part the media is owned. By Paxil, Lunestra, Claritin, Annheuser Busch, etc. They toe the line. GJ [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by MikeEEEEE on February 16, 2006 at 07:17:54 PT Purely Propaganda Associating drug use with teenagers and calling reformers liberal. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by jose melendez on February 16, 2006 at 04:03:03 PT How Come The Media? Never points out that cannabinoids have neuroprotective, anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial properties?Refuses to admit that cannabis use leads to a reduction in lung cancers, alcohol consumption, stress and depression?Covers up corruption, including felony false claims by ONDCP, NIDA and DEA employees?Ignores and will not cover the near century of intimidation, lies and outright perjury demonstrably evident in transcripts of sworn congressional testimony?Cannot find LEAP members to interview? - - - SOME REFERENCES:http://tinyurl.com/842tkhttp://tinyurl.com/9dyy7http://tinyurl.com/89zeehttp://tinyurl.com/bs6yhhttp://tinyurl.com/cntt2http://tinyurl.com/cepwcU.S. CODE, TITLE 31 > SUBTITLE III > CHAPTER 37 > SUBCHAPTER III > § 3729http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode31/usc_sec_31_00003729----000-.htmland, http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4258.htmland, http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/09/19/reefer_madness/index_np.htmland, http://www.louisville.edu/~mlgree02/proj4.htmland, http://org.elon.edu/pendulum/Issues/2003/022003/Opinion/Marijuana.htmlAND, http://www.taf.org/top20.htmalso, http://www.taf.org/legalupdate.htmsee especially, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._false_claims_law_(in_depth)http://tinyurl.com/8xdeaand, http://www.maps.org/mmj/DEAlawsuit.htmlhttp://tinyurl.com/8lcmg and a legal precedent from: http://www.capdefnet.org/hat/contents/constitutional_issues/exculpatory_evi/district_courts4.htmSilk-Nauni v. Fields, 676 F.Supp. 1076 (W.D.Okla. 1987)"Exculpatory evidence was unconstitutionally withheld when state failed to disclose a statement which would have revealed inconsistencies as to sequence of events leading up to shootings, and directly related to insanity defense by showing that defendant held and acted upon certain beliefs which lacked a foundation in reality." http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-886753_ITMfrom: http://leap.cc/contact.htmContact UsGeneral Inquiries:Want to help LEAP? Law Enforcement Against Prohibition27 Austin RoadMedford, MA 02155(781) 393-6985info leap.ccJack A. Cole Executive Director (781) 393-6985 jackacole leap.ccLincoln Taggart Administrative Director (781) 393-6985 lincoln.taggart leap.ccAllison Silva Program Associate (781) 393-6985 allison.silva leap.ccMike Smithson Speakers Bureau (315) 243-5844 speakers leap.ccPeter Christ Treasurer christ leap.ccJohn A. Gayder Secretary gayder leap.ccEdward Ellison Director - The United Kingdom ellison leap.ccJerry Cameron Director cameron leap.ccEleanor Schockett Director schockett leap.ccHoward Wooldridge Director wooldridge leap.cc Sue, Fine, Incarcerate Prohibitionists: CCCCP.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by OverwhelmSam on February 16, 2006 at 02:13:54 PT How Come The Media? Never points out that opponents to lighten marijuana penallties would rather see a teenager go to jail?Never points out that marijuana is safer than alcohol?Never points out that a solution to teen use is to regulate marijuana for adult use?Never points out that marijuana prohibitionists are jerks? [ Post Comment ] Post Comment