Pubdate: Fri, 23 Jan 2009
Source: Herald News, The (Fall River, MA)
Copyright: 2009 The Herald News
Contact:  http://www.heraldnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3604
Author: Michael Holtzman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

COUNCIL WANTS TO CLEAR THE AIR ON POT

Fall River - The City Council passed a resolution seeking information 
from the Police Department about how the decriminalization of 
possessing small amounts of marijuana has affected the city.

The resolution asks Police Chief John Souza to attend a future 
meeting of its Public Safety Committee. The standing committee is 
chaired by Linda M. Pereira, who proposed the resolution.

Pereira told colleagues she'd heard people being confused about the 
new law, which does not legalize pot. Under the law, anyone arrested 
with less than an ounce of marijuana is subject to a $100 civil fine 
in lieu of criminal prosecution. The law took effect Jan.  2.

One ounce of the drug yields about 50 joints and has a general street 
value of $200 to $300, law enforcement officials said.

"There seems to be many questions regarding the recent changes to the 
decriminalization of marijuana," Pereira wrote in a brief resolution.

Pereira said she hopes to have a broader discussion with the police 
chief at the meeting. Among issues she said concern her are the 
increasing number of "no right on red" signs proliferating around the city.

"I don't know why all over the world you can turn right on red, and 
in Fall River you can't," she said. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake