Pubdate: Mon, 09 Apr 2001
Source: Gloucester Daily Times (MA)
Copyright: 2001 Essex County Newspapers, Incorporated.
Contact:  http://www.gloucestertimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/169

CONSTERNATION GREETS BILLS TO EASE POT LAWS

When voters in Rep. Brad Hill's relatively conservative district indicated 
they would support a bill to decriminalize marijuana, the news came as a 
surprise to the Ipswich Republican.

However, Hill wasn't persuaded to sponsor such a bill. He maintains 
marijuana can lead to the abuse of more dangerous substances.

But nothing prevented Steve Epstein, a Georgetown attorney and the 
proposal's lead advocate, from taking the bill to Beacon Hill as 
legislation filed by a citizen's request.

Epstein's bill would make marijuana possession a civil infraction 
punishable by a fine, instead of a criminal charge. That bill, along with a 
similar bill that's backed by several Democratic lawmakers, finally reached 
a public hearing last Tuesday.

At the hearing, supporters reminded the Criminal Justice committee that the 
majority of voters in more than a dozen towns, including Manchester, showed 
support for marijuana decriminalization bills in non-binding referenda last 
November.

Epstein, one of the founders of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform 
Coalition, told the committee that he would rather see police officers, 
especially those in small departments like Georgetown's, spend their time 
on more important issues.

Medford resident Jack Cole, a retired state police officer from New Jersey, 
agreed.

"Let's put police on things that are much more important, like violent 
crimes," Cole said.

Cole and others talked about the long-lasting burden a drug conviction can 
create, particularly to young people.

"I have a lot of sorrow because I think I've ruined a lot of good people," 
Cole admitted. "Once you have a drug arrest, you get stigmatized."

Although no one spoke against either bill at the hearing, the bills face an 
uncertain future in the Statehouse. Many legislators are reluctant to adopt 
causes that could be perceived as soft on crime.

Rep. Stephen Tobin, the House chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee 
and a defense attorney, said he can easily see the issue from both sides.

Tobin, a Democrat from Quincy, said he hates to see teen-agers get a 
permanent mark on their record from a simple act of poor judgment. But he 
also doesn't want to send the message to young people that it's O.K. to 
smoke marijuana, and he's afraid the decriminalization bills might do that.

"I really don't know how this will play out," Tobin conceded.

Hill, who would only consider supporting the decriminalization of marijuana 
if it's for medicinal use, steered clear of Tuesday's hearing.

"I haven't even been following it, to be honest," Hill said later in the 
week. "I have bigger fish to fry than to worry about ... a bill that I 
don't support."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D