Pubdate: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 Source: Boston Herald (MA) Copyright: 2009 The Boston Herald, Inc Contact: http://news.bostonherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) POT LAW NEEDS ATTENTION A state lawmaker has filed two bills aimed at cleaning up the new marijuana possession law passed by voters in November. The legislation respects the spirit of that ballot question - but could tie up several confusing loose ends. For starters, the ballot question was maddeningly vague (intentionally so, we presume), leaving open the possibility that, say, a student found in possession of marijuana on school grounds could face no more serious punishment than that meaningless $100 ticket. No suspension. No detention. True, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education issued an opinion that schools are within their rights to punish that student, just as they may a student caught with cigarettes or alcohol. But Rep. Cleon Turner (D-Dennis) wisely anticipates that opinion to be challenged in court. His bill would make it clear that schools and employers may ban marijuana from school grounds and places of business. Turner also filed a bill that would make failure to pay three marijuana possession citations in a year a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 or six months in jail. Currently, there is no incentive for a person to pay the civil fine, no matter how many tickets pile up. As Turner points out, such a change does not violate the voters' intent to make possession of an ounce or less of marijuana a civil offense punishable by a $100 fine. Just pay the citation, and you've got nothing to worry about. Yes, the voters have spoken. But lawmakers are well within their rights to protect public safety by clarifying the loose language. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin