Pubdate: Sun, 2 Nov 2008
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Column: Pols & Politics
Copyright: 2008 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Author: Dave Wedge
Cited: Question 2 http://sensiblemarijuanapolicy.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?161 (Marijuana - Regulation)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Marijuana and Driving)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Committee+for+Sensible+Marijuana+Policy

OUNCE OF PREVENTION?

The proposal to decriminalize marijuana has an unlikely backer: a 
board member of one of the state's biggest auto insurers.

Attorney Tom Kiley, one of the top proponents of Question 2, is a 
board member for Arbella Insurance. Opponents say the proposal, which 
would make possession of an ounce of pot punishable by a fine, will 
lead to more high drivers.

Kiley denied sending a mixed message. "I don't see any potential 
conflict issues there at all," he said. "The law that I wrote does 
nothing to change the way we deal with people operating under the 
influence of marijuana."

Cape & Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe, a foe of the 
decriminalization effort, thinks otherwise. "The idea of having 
someone high on marijuana and driving an automobile is simply an 
invitation to disaster," he said.

In addition to writing the law, Kiley's law firm has been paid 
$33,000 to work for Question 2 by the Committee for Sensible 
Marijuana Policy, records show.

Booze Ad Gets Booed

The race between state Rep. Paul Kujawski (D-Webster) and his 
Republican opponent, Kevin Kuros, has turned nasty with the surfacing 
of an anonymous mailing mocking Kujawski's high-profile 2004 
drunken-driving bust.

The mailer, which Kuros denies having a hand in, features a red fire 
hydrant with these words: "Even dogs know where its appropriate to 
relieve themselves. But State Representative Paul Kujawski, well . . ."

On the other side, the mailer reports on the DUI bust, during which 
Kujawski was allegedly urinating in front of a cop.

The flyer, which was mailed across the district, says it is "not 
authorized by any candidate or political committee." It has a smiling 
picture of the lawmaker with a bubble above him saying: "Everyone has 
a few too many sometimes."

"I find it offensive. I find it insulting. And I find it cowardly," 
Kujawski told the Worcester Telegram. "And I'm going to hold my 
opponent directly responsible."

Kuros told the paper he had nothing to do with it the flyer and 
called it "way out of bounds." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake