Ballot Question 2
Oct. 10th, 2008 02:10 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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davis_squareA YES VOTE would replace the criminal penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana with a new system of civil penalties.
A NO VOTE would make no change in state criminal laws concerning possession of marijuana.
A previous thread of discussion can be found here.
This proposed law would replace the criminal penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana with a new system of civil penalties, to be enforced by issuing citations, and would exclude information regarding this civil offense from the state's criminal record information system. Offenders age 18 or older would be subject to forfeiture of the marijuana plus a civil penalty of $100. Offenders under the age of 18 would be subject to the same forfeiture and, if they complete a drug awareness program within one year of the offense, the same $100 penalty.
Offenders under 18 and their parents or legal guardian would be notified of the offense and the option for the offender to complete a drug awareness program developed by the state Department of Youth Services. Such programs would include ten hours of community service and at least four hours of instruction or group discussion concerning the use and abuse of marijuana and other drugs and emphasizing early detection and prevention of substance abuse.
The penalty for offenders under 18 who fail to complete such a program within one year could be increased to as much as $1,000, unless the offender showed an inability to pay, an inability to participate in such a program, or the unavailability of such a program. Such an offender's parents could also be held liable for the increased penalty. Failure by an offender under 17 to complete such a program could also be a basis for a delinquency proceeding.
The proposed law would define possession of one ounce or less of marijuana as including possession of one ounce or less of tetrahydrocannibinol ("THC"), or having metabolized products of marijuana or THC in one's body.
Under the proposed law, possessing an ounce or less of marijuana could not be grounds for state or local government entities imposing any other penalty, sanction, or disqualification, such as denying student financial aid, public housing, public financial assistance including unemployment benefits, the right to operate a motor vehicle, or the opportunity to serve as a foster or adoptive parent. The proposed law would allow local ordinances or bylaws that prohibit the public use of marijuana, and would not affect existing laws, practices, or policies concerning operating a motor vehicle or taking other actions while under the influence of marijuana, unlawful possession of prescription forms of marijuana, or selling, manufacturing, or trafficking in marijuana.
The money received from the new civil penalties would go to the city or town where the offense occurred.
Ref: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele08/ballot_questions_08/quest_2.htm
A NO VOTE would make no change in state criminal laws concerning possession of marijuana.
A previous thread of discussion can be found here.
This proposed law would replace the criminal penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana with a new system of civil penalties, to be enforced by issuing citations, and would exclude information regarding this civil offense from the state's criminal record information system. Offenders age 18 or older would be subject to forfeiture of the marijuana plus a civil penalty of $100. Offenders under the age of 18 would be subject to the same forfeiture and, if they complete a drug awareness program within one year of the offense, the same $100 penalty.
Offenders under 18 and their parents or legal guardian would be notified of the offense and the option for the offender to complete a drug awareness program developed by the state Department of Youth Services. Such programs would include ten hours of community service and at least four hours of instruction or group discussion concerning the use and abuse of marijuana and other drugs and emphasizing early detection and prevention of substance abuse.
The penalty for offenders under 18 who fail to complete such a program within one year could be increased to as much as $1,000, unless the offender showed an inability to pay, an inability to participate in such a program, or the unavailability of such a program. Such an offender's parents could also be held liable for the increased penalty. Failure by an offender under 17 to complete such a program could also be a basis for a delinquency proceeding.
The proposed law would define possession of one ounce or less of marijuana as including possession of one ounce or less of tetrahydrocannibinol ("THC"), or having metabolized products of marijuana or THC in one's body.
Under the proposed law, possessing an ounce or less of marijuana could not be grounds for state or local government entities imposing any other penalty, sanction, or disqualification, such as denying student financial aid, public housing, public financial assistance including unemployment benefits, the right to operate a motor vehicle, or the opportunity to serve as a foster or adoptive parent. The proposed law would allow local ordinances or bylaws that prohibit the public use of marijuana, and would not affect existing laws, practices, or policies concerning operating a motor vehicle or taking other actions while under the influence of marijuana, unlawful possession of prescription forms of marijuana, or selling, manufacturing, or trafficking in marijuana.
The money received from the new civil penalties would go to the city or town where the offense occurred.
Ref: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele08/ballot_questions_08/quest_2.htm
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no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 06:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 06:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 06:58 pm (UTC)this is interesting for a few reasons. For one, it implies that you could have an ounce of "pure" THC which is rather interesting. An ounce of very pure hash would be the same as an ounce of pot.
But what I find more interesting is the bit about having metabolized products of Marijuana or THC in ones body. As far as I know, there is nothing illegal about having the metabolized products of THC in your system. It is illegal to possess marijuana and illegal to buy and sell it, but I have never seen anyone prosecuted for failing a drug test. This would be imposing a civil penalty where, as far as I know, there was no previous criminal penalty.
I find this a bit worrisome.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 07:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 08:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 08:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 07:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 08:27 pm (UTC)But, since that's not likely to happen right away, I'll happily vote for switching minor possession charges to civil penalties from criminal ones.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 08:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 10:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 07:55 pm (UTC)I find it to be very odd and I wonder how/why it was worked in there.
(of course this all glosses over the whole, metabolites doesnt equal actually being high thing which really needs to be resolved. We need a test for intoxication, not for previous consumption.)
no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 08:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 09:01 pm (UTC)Voting "YES" on this.
Date: 2008-10-11 12:12 am (UTC)