SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATURE'S PROPOSAL ON POT

The thunderers want to continue threatening jail as the best way to
keep people off marijuana ("Pot possession decriminalization bill
approved by Legislative Panel," Feb. 16) even though it is clear that
current criminal penalties for possessing marijuana reduce neither
supply nor demand. Anyone who wants it can get it. Close to 50
percent of Massachusetts voters over the age of 18 have tried it at
least once in their lifetime. Most never try any other illicit drug,
almost all are good people and some are politicians. Since 2000, by
substantial margins voters in three state senate and 23 state
representative districts, including Norwell in 2002, supported
making marijuana possession a civil violation and not a crime. The
voters recognize the criminal justice system is not the place to
express disapproval. They understand that parents are the best
anti-drug. Parent-imposed punishments and voluntary counseling are
more likely to rehabilitate the child than state-imposed
punishments. When they do not, the police or parents of a
child below the age of 17 may petition the Juvenile Court that the
child is in need of services. The Court can then use the coercive
power of the state to help the parents and child.

Legalizing, taxing and regulating this agricultural commodity used
in the past month by about a tenth of Massachusetts' adult
population, while prohibiting it to children as we do tobacco and
alcohol, is the best policy consistent with securing the
Constitution's promised blessings of liberty. Until the
federal prohibition is relaxed, the decriminalization proposed is
fiscally responsible, humane and sensible.

Steven S. Epstein, Esq.

Georgetown, MA