Pubdate: Sat, 20 Oct 2012
Source: Tri-Town Transcript (MA)
Copyright: 2012, GateHouse Media, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wickedlocal.com/topsfield
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2643
Authors: A. Wayne Sampson, Evan Haglund, Michael Murphy, James 
DiGianvittorio

TRI-TOWN POLICE OPPOSE MEDICAL MARIJUANA INITIATIVE

Topsfield - To the editor,

The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association is strongly OPPOSED to
the adoption of the ballot initiative in November 2012 relative to
so-called "Medical Marijuana." As the state's leaders in the law
enforcement community, we cannot sit idly by and watch the damage this
proposal would have on our children and our communities.

We are not unsympathetic to the plight of certain individuals with
legitimate medical conditions. The wording of the ballot question,
however, allows doctors to prescribe marijuana for literally anyone,
regardless of whether they actually suffer from a medical ailment. In
the next few years, reportedly a prescription drug will become
available that delivers the same "medicinal" effect. Let's wait a
short while. If this state adopts this ballot initiative in the mean
time, the damage to our youth, our communities and our quality of life
will be irreparable.

The experience of law enforcement professionals in other states where
similar efforts have been tried has shown that the public safety
problems created far outweigh any benefits to the very few individuals
that potentially benefit from smoking marijuana. It sends the message
that smoking marijuana is legal and healthy. Both are absolutely
WRONG! Even if this ballot question were approved, it would still be a
violation of federal law to possess or distribute marijuana through
the "clinics" or other dispensing sites called for under the proposed
law.

The ballot question speaks of so-called "medical marijuana treatment
centers," but experience shows these are often simply drug and
paraphernalia storefronts. They are targets for burglaries, robberies
and other crimes. What they do to a neighborhood is by no means
consistent with where most citizens want to live or raise their
children. Nearby homeowners and businesses will see a decline in their
property values at a time when we are all still suffering from a
depressed housing and retail market.

The police are already strapped and will find enforcement of many of
the provisions of the new law very burdensome. For example, experience
elsewhere tells us that abuse of "medical marijuana" cards will be
rampant. Letting caregivers get a sixty-day supply of marijuana is an
invitation for disaster and abuse.

At a time when economic conditions dictate that we focus limited
police resources on serious crime, this additional burden will detract
from a police department's other community policing and serious crime
prevention, investigation and apprehension efforts.

Sincerely,

Chief A. Wayne Sampson (Ret.), Executive Director AND all three
Tri-Town Police chiefs including Topsfield Chief Evan Haglund, Boxford
Chief Michael Murphy and Middleton Chief James DiGianvittorio
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt