Pubdate: Tue, 16 Nov 2010
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2010 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Referenced: New Pot Law Blamed As Violence Escalates 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n937/a06.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/states/MA/ (Massachusetts)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?261 (Cannabis - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)

SAFETY GOES UP IN SMOKE

Two years ago Massachusetts voters decided it was no biggie if an 
adult wanted to smoke the occasional joint, and voted to make 
possession of less than an ounce of marijuana a civil, not a 
criminal, offense. It all sounded so chill, dude.

But in addition to the fact that those civil penalties are almost 
impossible to enforce, pot-related trafficking and violence have been 
going up since passage of Question 2, which is frankly no surprise. 
Decriminalization is driving demand. Demand is driving the supply. 
And trafficking of the supply drives crime.

Distribution and trafficking cases are up in both Suffolk and 
Middlesex counties, as the Herald reported yesterday.

Whether police are digging up more than 100 pot plants on Nantucket 
or uncovering 2,000 pounds of pot in a Mattapan apartment, the stuff 
is landing in the Bay State in bigger numbers.

And the September massacre in Mattapan of four people - including a 
2-year-old boy - was allegedly driven by a turf dispute over pot dealing.

This is not, as voters were told, a victimless crime.

Advocates of Question 2 insist the fallout is because Massachusetts 
didn't go far enough - full legalization would reduce the violence 
and crime that accompanies the illegal drug trade.

But let's be real - Massachusetts voters are never going to go that 
far. Instead they took this baby step, and our communities are less 
safe for it. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake