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Posted by: kwflatbed

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BOSTON — Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana would no longer be considered a criminal offense under a bill that won the backing of a legislative committee on yesterday.
The bill, which was approved by the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee on 6-1 vote, would make possession of a small amount of a marijuana a civil offense punishable by a $250 fine. Those 18 years old or younger would also have their parents notified.
Possession of that amount of marijuana is now considered a criminal office punishable by up to six months in jail and a $500 fine for the first offense.
Sen. Steven Tolman, D-Brighton, co-chairman of the committee, said the goal was to make sure that someone found with a small amount of marijuana doesn't have a criminal record that could make it difficult for them to get into college, obtain student loans and make it harder to find a job.
Critics of the bill say it could encourage the use of marijuana by easing some of the social stigma.
The House chairwoman of the committee, Rep. Ruth Balser, D-Newton, said the focus should be on prevention, not jail time.
"A priority of our committee is to develop programs of prevention, education and treatment and shift away from an involvement with the criminal justice system," Balser said.
The committee's approval is just the first step in a long process. The bill must still be approved by the House and Senate and sent to Gov. Mitt Romney's desk. If Romney were to veto the bill, it would need a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override the veto.
Several states have already approved similar legislation.

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Posted by: Wolfman

No one ever goes to jail for a first offense anyhow, why bother changing the laws? It just sends the message that this kind of activity will be tolerated. People know pot is illegal. I have never seen someone get pinched for weed and say, "I didn't know it was against the law." You get bagged, you face the penalties. If it screws up your chance for your dream job well tough shit, you should have thought of that before toking up like Bob Marley.

Now if this BS legislation goes through the next question would be, since it is only civil, how will an officer know if it's a subsequent possessory offense - will there be some special "already had my bite at the apple" entry made on the BOP?

Will the option of a CWOF for a subsequent offense be removed? Will penalties for a subsequent offense be harsher since the defendant already had their chance?

What if someone has less than an ounce - but it is packaged consistent with distribution?

Will we see other narcotics added? How about just a rock or 2 of crack? Maybe a little bag of heroin?

While we're at it, let's make other first offense charges civil - how about first offense OUI? Possession of a firearm? Minor transpoting alcohol? Statutory rape if the "victim" is over 15? We certainly wouldn't want anyone to have to face the repurcussions of their criminal activities now.

If this keeps up I'm going to start working on a plan for a coin operated hypodermic dispenser which can be installed in our schools and bus stations. I'll retire a wealthy man and move somewhere where people are sane.

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Posted by: JoninNH

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfman If this keeps up I'm going to start working on a plan for a coin operated hypodermic dispenser which can be installed in our schools and bus stations. I'll retire a wealthy man and move somewhere where people are sane.

LOL.

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Posted by: SOT

What about the gun crimes? Free first gun crime? Free first rape? come on now....

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Posted by: Mikey682

Why does this happen? It probably started when a congressman's shithead kid got pinched for drugs in his car and he's not happy his little darling's license got suspended and he had to go to court, etc.

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Posted by: MSP75

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOT_II What about the gun crimes? Free first gun crime? Free first rape? come on now....

Isn't that how it already is? The BOPs always show the first dozen times as CWOFs or Dismiss.

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Posted by: RPD931

What do you expect from a State of liberals that only cries for Police when they (liberals) become victims. They don't want any proactive policing. Just like the ACLU, they are the first to cry that they weren't protected and then they turn and cry that you violate their rights. I think we need to split the nation. All idiot liberals on 1 side of the nation and we "realists" in the other.

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