Pubdate: Thu, 09 Oct 2008
Source: Republican, The (Springfield, MA)
Copyright: 2008 The Republican
Contact:  http://www.masslive.com/republican/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3075
Author: Michael
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

POLICE CHIEFS: VOTE NO TO POT

WEST SPRINGFIELD - Law enforcement officials from  Western
Massachusetts gathered Wednesday to voice their  opposition to
Question 2 on the November ballot, a  measure that would decriminalize
possession of an ounce  or less or marijuana.

"Ballot Question 2 is a green light to drug dealers to  target young
children, especially high school students,  to buy and use drugs,"
Hampden County District Attorney  William M. Bennett said during a
press conference held  in front of West Springfield High School.

Others who spoke out in opposition to the ballot  question were police
Chiefs Anthony R. Scott, of  Holyoke, Bruce W. McMahon, of
Easthampton, and David F.  Guilbault, of Greenfield; Hampden County
Sheriff  Michael J. Ashe Jr.; Berkshire County District Attorney 
David F. Capeless; and Northwestern District Attorney  Elizabeth Scheibel.

Question 2, if passed by voters Nov. 4, would replace  criminal
penalties for possession of an ounce or less  of marijuana with a $100
fine. The measure is sponsored  by the Boston-based Committee for
Sensible Marijuana  Policy, which is seeking the decriminalization of
what  it considers a minor offense but said the question  would have
no impact on arrests involving the sale,  distribution or trafficking
of any amount of marijuana.

Passage would also save the criminal justice system  millions of
dollars in costs associated with  marijuana-possession cases,
according to proponents.

"What we're looking at is thousands of people's lives  derailed every
year, millions of dollars wasted, and we  know we can do it better,"
said Whitney A. Taylor,  campaign manager and chairwoman of the committee.

Taylor also said from 2000 to 2006, voters favored the  $100 civil
penalty in nonbinding votes in 30  legislative districts around the
state.

Capeless said that under current state law, a first  offense by a
juvenile will not result in a record and a  first offense by someone
17 or older is automatically  continued for six months and, if the
person stays out  of trouble, a dismissal follows.

"Question Number 2 would send a very wrong message to  our young
people that smoking dope is OK," Capeless  said.

Capeless and McMahon said surveys in Berkshire County  and in
Easthampton show fewer teenagers are using  marijuana.

"More and more teens are making the right decisions  about drugs. Why
then do we want to send the wrong  message to our youth?" McMahon asked.

"This is wrong. It's a misguided ballot question,"  Scheibel said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin