Pubdate: Thu, 07 Feb 2008
Source: Daily Free Press (Boston U, MA Edu)
Copyright: 2008 Back Bay Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.dailyfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/796
Author: Meghan  Schultz
Cited: Coalition for Sensible Marijuana Policy 
http://sensiblemarijuanapolicy.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

DRUG LAWS NEED REVISION

Last month, activist groups led by the Coalition for Sensible 
Marijuana Policy launched a campaign to reduce the penalties for the 
possession of marijuana for personal use in Massachusetts.  According 
to current state law, possession of any amount of marijuana carries 
the risk of incarceration, heavy fines, a criminal record and legal 
fees. Those convicted of marijuana possession can lose student 
financial aid, public housing, unemployment benefits, the right to 
operate a motor vehicle and the opportunity to serve as a foster or 
adoptive parent.

The proposed law would classify marijuana possession as a civil 
offense, punishable by citation, fine and forfeiture of the weed.

It's about time. In poll after poll, the people of Massachusetts have 
demonstrated they are dissatisfied with the way the state responds to 
its citizens' cannabis use -- and they should be. The penalties 
levied for cannabis use are draconian, outdated and 
counterproductive. It is common knowledge that cannabis smoking is 
about as damaging to human health as cigarette smoking -- which the 
state allows.

Unlike tobacco use, however, cannabis carries no risk of addiction, 
and it is impossible to consume enough to overdose on it. Smoking 
weed simply does not constitute a public health threat.

Continuing to label its responsible use by adults "criminal" is 
preposterous, and -- considering the more concrete damage rendered by 
legal substances -- outright hypocritical.

Prohibition has never been an effective method of controlling 
widespread substance use. Every culture in the world has used 
mind-altering substances (with the sole exception of tribes in the 
extreme climate of northern Canada and Alaska who could not 
extensively cultivate anything, let alone drugs), and Massachusetts 
in 2008 is no exception -- prohibition has failed here. Cannabis use 
is commonplace. Trying to stop a population from indulging in one of 
its favorite substances is doomed to failure.

And so what? The fabric of society has not yet crumbled from cannabis 
use, despite consistently high rates of usage. The majority of 
marijuana users are responsible and reasonable about their 
consumption -- they enjoy their herb the way many enjoy their wine 
and cocktails -- or, for that matter, their caffeine, nicotine and sugar.

The only reasonable response to a substance with such a wide appeal 
is regulation. By treating cannabis as a dangerous pariah, our laws 
have forced it into a black market, making it easily accessible to 
underage users, eliminating any possibility of quality control, 
denying local governments revenue from this cash crop and funding 
large-scale organized crime in this country and internationally. 
Passage of the proposed bill would be a step in the direction of 
regulation, which would put an end to the free-for-all black market 
system that is institutionalized by current laws.

The current legal status of cannabis erodes the rights of otherwise 
law-abiding people while the public derives no perceptible benefit.

Other legislation and social conventions exist to protect the public 
from the negative effects of substance abuse: DUI laws, the right of 
employers to fire employees who perform poorly, public consumption 
bans, trafficking regulations and age restrictions, for example.

The substantial criminal penalties for simple possession are excessive.

Denying access to public resources like financial aid and public 
housing to those who are caught with marijuana is senseless.

Such penalties make it more difficult for people to function as 
productive members of society, especially in cases of students denied 
government financial aid for mere possession. Denying people access 
to education, housing and unemployment benefits does not deter 
potential pot smokers, but simply marginalizes those who already smoke.

The legislation proposed by the coalition would replace criminal 
penalties for possession of small quantities of cannabis with civil 
ones. Penalties would be stiffer for those under 18 and would include 
community service and substance abuse education.

Reducing the severity of punishment to the caliber of an expensive 
parking ticket would ease the negative repercussions that society 
experiences when its laws interfere with the careers, family lives, 
transportation and education of otherwise law-abiding people.

It is time for our laws to correspond to our cultural practices.

Human beings like to use mind-altering substances, and they do so. 
They did so when a misguided Congress passed the 18th Amendment 
banning alcohol, did so when the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act effectively 
banned cannabis use and they continue to do so now. Criminal 
punishment for an act that the people of Massachusetts do not think 
ought to be considered criminal at all is undemocratic. All 
Massachusetts residents, regardless of whether we choose to use 
marijuana, should support CSMP's initiative to decriminalize small 
quantities for personal use. Any person who values his or her rights 
should be outraged at marijuana prohibition's victimization of 
citizens who have done nothing to harm or disturb others. This 
so-called War on Drugs has gone on too long and made mockeries of too 
many of our rights.

This year we have the opportunity to vote some sense back into drug policy.

It is our responsibility to take it. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake