Pubdate: Wed, 5 Nov 2008
Source: The Salem News (MA)
Copyright: 2008 Eagle Tribune Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.salemnews.com/contactus/local_story_015132129.html
Website:  http://www.salemnews.com
Details:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/3466
Author: Steve  Landwehr, Staff Writer
Referenced: Question 2 http://sensiblemarijuanapolicy.org/initiative
Cited: Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition http://MassCann.org/
Bookmark:   http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Marijuana - Popular)
Bookmark:   http://www.mapinc.org/find?161 (Marijuana - Regulation)

NORTH SHORE GOES TO POT, AND THE DOGS

Voters across the North Shore yesterday overwhelmingly decided that 
personal possession of an ounce or less of marijuana should be 
decriminalized. Question 2 on the ballot was approved by nearly a 2-1 
ratio in every community. The only place the vote was at all close 
was in Peabody, where police Chief Robert Champagne was a vocal 
opponent of the measure. Even there, however, the measure won favor 
with 58 percent of voters.

"It is what it is," Champagne said. "The people have spoken." His 
concern now is that there is no system in place to issue citations, 
as the question calls for, he said.

Steve Epstein, speaking for MassCann/NORML, which has lobbied for 
reforming marijuana laws for years, felt vindicated by yesterday's 
result. "It's a great step," Epstein said. "We knew the seeds sown by 
MassCann would bear fruit."

He added the result was also an "indictment" of the legislature for 
failing to take action sooner.

Question 3, to ban dog racing, won by a narrower margin locally, but 
the only community opposed to it was Peabody.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake