Pubdate: Wed, 15 Feb 2006
Source: Newton Tab (MA)
Copyright: 2006 Newton Tab
Contact:  http://www2.townonline.com/newton/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3619
Author: Amy  Lambiaso, State House News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark:  http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

BILL WOULD LET TEENS CARRY POT WITH NO THREAT OF JAIL

Setting up a conflict with the Romney administration, lawmakers on
Monday advanced a longstanding Beacon Hill proposal to decriminalize
the possession of enough marijuana for teens to roll dozens of joints.
Approved 6-1 by  the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee, the
proposal would change the  penalty for possessing less than an ounce
of marijuana to a $250 civil fine for  anyone 18 years old and
younger. Currently,  someone convicted of such an offense can be sent
to jail for up to six months  for the crime and pay a $500 fine for a
first offense. According to Lea  Palleria Cox of Concerned Citizens
for Drug Prevention Inc. and a bill opponent,  an ounce of marijuana
equals roughly 57 joints. The issue has  been a source of contention
for years in the Legislature, with the late Sen.  Charles Shannon as
its biggest advocate. Lawmakers in the past have included a  similar
provision in the budget, only to have it vetoed by former Acting Gov.
Jane Swift.

Gov. Mitt Romney  is also a likely opponent to the proposal; Lt. Gov.
Kerry Healey has expressed  her opposition to proposal, saying it
could treat marijuana lightly under the  law, and Romney's spokesman
said lawmakers should remain tough on drugs.

"Governor Romney  believes we should enforce the laws against drugs,
and that we be should be  careful not to suggest that we are softening
our view on marijuana use," Eric  Fehrnstrom, Romney's director of
communications, said in a statement. "It is  important that we
continue to send a message to young people that drugs are bad  for
you."

But advocates of  decriminalization say the 11 other states that have
taken a similar path,  including California, New York, and Nebraska,
have seen no negative affects, and  point to the results of
non-binding ballot questions in 2000, 2002, and 2004  when 63 percent
of voters supported the initiative in 19 Massachusetts  legislative
districts.

Being pushed by  the Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts, advocates
cite a 2002 report by Boston  University Economist Jeffrey Miron that
estimated marijuana possession arrests  and court processing costs for
the state at $24.3 million a year.

Committee  Co-Chairwoman Rep. Ruth Balser, D-Newton, said kids who are
caught with  marijuana often lose their chance at going to college
because they have a  criminal record.

"We don't want to  ruin someone's life because of a stupid mistake,"
she said. "We're not saying  it's a good thing to use marijuana,"
added Sen. Steven Tolman, D-Brighton,  co-chairman of the committee.
"But it could ruin a kid's future." Rep. Brian  Wallace, D-South
Boston, the lone opponent during today's committee vote, said  the use
of alcohol and marijuana often leads to the use of more harmful and
addictive drugs, and for that reason, believes the penalties should
remain  tough.

Other opponents  agree that marijuana is a gateway to other drugs and
is sending the wrong  message to teenagers.

"This flies in  the face of trying to keep young people off drugs,"
said William Breault of the  Main South Alliance for Public Safety in
Worcester. "But this is what we have to  deal with now with this
liberal state  government."
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MAP posted-by: Derek