Pubdate: Fri, 01 Jul 2016
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2016 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact: http://services.bostonglobe.com/news/opeds/letter.aspx?id=6340
Website: http://bostonglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Author: Andy Rosen

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION GROUP TARGETS WALPOLE CHIEF

Organizers of a referendum campaign to legalize recreational 
marijuana in Massachusetts accused Walpole's police chief on Thursday 
of veering into political advocacy by speaking at a campaign event 
organized by opponents of the November ballot measure.

Chief John Carmichael, who has been an outspoken advocate about the 
dangers of substance abuse, participated in the June 23 event in 
Framingham to detail what he said were public safety concerns about 
the dangers of edible products derived from marijuana.

The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol said it filed a 
complaint to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance 
arguing that Carmichael should not have come to the event in uniform 
during work hours, and should not have used his departmental car to get there.

"Chief Carmichael is entitled to his opinions, but he is not entitled 
to express those opinions at campaign events while on taxpayer time 
and using taxpayer-funded resources," campaign manager Will Luzier 
said in a statement announcing the filing.

Carmichael denied doing anything wrong, and said in an interview that 
the appearance was an extension of his work representing the 
Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association on drug issues.

He was part of a group that traveled to Colorado to examine the 
effects of marijuana legalization there, and said he was concerned 
about the advent of edible products, which he believes could be 
hazardous to children.

"That's a public safety issue that I think we're obligated to educate 
the public on," he said. "Apparently there's a push to have me 
silenced now so I can't educate the community as to the dangers of 
these substances."

He added: "I never try to tell anybody how to vote."

Guidance issued by the state campaign office says appointed officials 
like Carmichael "may act or speak out about a ballot question in 
their official capacity during work hours if in doing so they are 
acting within the scope of their official responsibilities."

The state also says campaign finance law "prohibits the use of public 
funds or other public resources to support or oppose a question put to voters."

The proposed referendum would legalize marijuana for those 21 and 
older, and allow retail sales beginning in January 2018.

Corey Welford, spokesman for the Safe and Healthy Massachusetts 
Campaign, which opposes legalization, issued a statement that accused 
supporters of "attacking a respected police chief for educating 
people about the dangerous edibles market."

Opponents of the ballot measure have argued that powerful marijuana 
industry interests are behind a measure that could harm public 
health. Supporters say they are trying to institute a more sensible 
enforcement policy for a drug that is less dangerous than alcohol.

Pro-legalization campaign spokesman Jim Borghesani said there is 
"nothing personal" about the complaint regarding Carmichael.

"As the top police official in Walpole, he should be accountable for 
his actions," Borghesani said.
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