Pubdate: Tue, 13 Dec 2005
Source: Republican, The (Springfield, MA)
Copyright: 2005 The Republican
Contact:  http://www.masslive.com/republican/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3075
Author: Diane  Lederman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MARIJUANA BUSTS IRK AMHERST MAN

AMHERST - With more than two dozen University of Massachusetts
students accompanying him, Terry Franklin brought concerns to the
Select Board about the number of marijuana arrests in town.

Franklin, of 1040 N. Pleasant St., questioned why town money was being
spent to arrest residents for marijuana violations when the town
passed a marijuana resolution that he helped bring to voters. Franklin
is one of the organizers of  the annual "Extravaganja," a festival
that features, food, music, speeches about  legalizing marijuana use.

Voters in 2000 backed reforming marijuana laws by a 1,659 to 981
margin . The nonbinding referendum called for asking state and
national legislators to lobby  for legalizing marijuana and in the
interim for the town police to relax enforcement of the possession
law.

He also brought concerns about what he called "a pattern of
harassment" and "police intimidation."

Police Chief Charles L. Scherpa said he had no response to the
complaint. Selectmen asked Franklin last week to put his concerns in
writing, which he has done. Among his requests were asking the board
to provide a forum for "the hearing of community concerns about police
issues."

He told the board his concerns as well about police behavior on Hobart
Lane when police have responded to pre-graduation parties that have
drawn more than 1,000. "I don't want it to appear that my focus is on
Chief Scherpa. He is only the hired man. Barry (Del Castilho) is the
boss. He sets policy - if not directly,  then by his
appointments."

"The charges are unfounded and that enforcement of the marijuana law
is not a priority but the law will be enforced (when police) deem it
to be appropriate,"  Town Manager Barry L. Del Castilho said. In his
information to the board, Franklin included a letter by a former UMass
student alleging that she was intimidated by police for what ended up
being a  marijuana possession charge.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake