Pubdate: Fri, 9 May 2008 Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA) Copyright: 2008 Worcester Telegram & Gazette Contact: http://www.telegram.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/509 Note: Rarely prints LTEs from outside circulation area Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n377/a08.html Author: Whitney Taylor CSMP DOES NOT SUPPORT LEGALIZATION I find it unfortunate that the newspaper chose to publish a story about the initiative being proposed by the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy, but never reached out to the proponents and was incorrect on our efforts (Marijuana foes see through smoke screen, Telegram & Gazette, April 11). CSMP does not support legalization. The purpose of our organization is to create a sensible approach to marijuana policy that will help increase public safety and social responsibility. CSMP's initiative creates a civil penalty system for personal possession of an ounce or less of marijuana. This approach would end the creation of more than 7,500 new CORIs every year, and end the barriers to education, employment and housing created by those CORIs. Additionally, in 2008, Harvard economist and professor Jeffrey Miron released an independent study that found Massachusetts police departments spend $29.5 million a year to arrest and book offenders caught simply possessing marijuana. CSMP believes that these funds should stay in police budgets and be used to combat serious and violent crimes. Eleven other states have similar laws that have proved successful. CSMP's efforts are not part of some national conspiracy, but rather an attempt to create a pragmatic solution to the proven failure of current marijuana policies. Whitney A. Taylor Campaign Manager Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy Boston