Pubdate: Thu, 11 Nov 2004
Source: Georgetown Record (MA)
Copyright: 2004 Community Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://www2.townonline.com/georgetown/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3519
Author: Joel Beck
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/states/ma/ (Massachusetts)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

NON-BINDING POT QUESTION WINS HANDILY

If you ask Steve Epstein, sooner or later someone at the State House has to 
start paying attention to the public demand for the reformation of 
Massachusetts' marijuana laws.

For now, Epstein is hoping the third time is the charm. Lost in the shuffle 
of yet another controversial photo finish in the presidential race was the 
North Shore's passage - by a wide margin - of Epstein's non-binding ballot 
question seeking to decriminalize marijuana, with punishment for possession 
being more like getting a traffic ticket. As a Georgetown attorney and a 
longtime marijuana reform advocate, Epstein had placed the question on 
ballots in the 2nd Essex and 3rd Essex and Middlesex Senate districts, 
asking voters whether they'd like their legislators to reconsider the 
state's marijuana laws.

This being the third time a marijuana reformation question on a 
Massachusetts ballot, Epstein hopes this will be the time legislators put 
the wheels in motion. "My prediction was pretty accurate," says Epstein. 
"This is the third time we've been doing this and once again both Senate 
districts voted overwhelmingly in favor."

Overwhelming indeed. In the 2nd Essex Senate District, which includes 
Danvers, Peabody, Salem, Topsfield and Beverly, the question passed by more 
than a 2-to-1 margin, with nearly 50,000 voting in favor and roughly 22,000 
voting against. Meanwhile, in the 3rd Essex and Middlesex district, which 
includes Saugus, Marblehead, Swampscott, Melrose, Lynn and Nahant, more 
than 37,000 people voted in favor with a little more than 18,000 voting 
against. It remains to be seen whether marijuana reform will become a 
reality any time in Massachusetts' immediate future, but at the very least, 
Epstein likes the numbers he saw on Tuesday night.

"Any candidate would be glad to have our margin of victory," says Epstein. 
"I don't know when the members of the House and Senate have to start paying 
attention to this. But I was telling the Republicans at my polling places 
(Tuesday) that they would do a lot better if they would adopt my position 
on marijuana."

Perhaps, but considering that only two candidates actually responded to a 
questionnaire that Epstein had sent out prior to the election asking 
whether they would support marijuana reform, changing the state's policy 
may be easier said than done.

That said, Epstein knows the hard part may just be getting started. "We'll 
be in communication (with all the legislators)," says Epstein. "We'll be in 
touch with all of them about hopefully getting them to sign on to a bill." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake