MARIJUANA COULD BE DECRIMINALIZED IN MASS.

Massachusetts lawmakers may end up passing more than legislation if
three proposed bills reducing punishment for marijuana possession from
jail time to a small fine are voted into law.

Proposed Senate bills no. 1121 and no. 1011 would replace criminal
penalties for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana with a
civil fine. House bill no. 2247 will create a program to make it legal
for people to grow, smoke or possess marijuana with a doctor's written
certification.

Under current Massachusetts law, people arrested for possession of any
amount of marijuana can face up to six months in jail and a fine of up
to $500, according to the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy.

"Creating a civil penalty system instead of a criminal one would save
Massachusetts millions of dollars in law enforcement resources, and
it's been proven that decriminalization does not increase marijuana
use," said Sensible Marijuana Policy chairwoman Whitney Taylor.

Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition President Keith Saunders said
previous polls show voters in the commonwealth support the bills. He
said the proposed legislation is based on public policy questions
MassCann and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana
Laws have asked since 2000.

"Massachusetts voters have made it clear that they do not consider the
10 percent of the state's populace who uses marijuana each month to be
acting in a criminal manner just for smoking pot," he said.

Some in the medical field say reducing the punishment of marijuana may
cause people to abuse it or other drugs.

"In its current state, it has been noted that marijuana can serve as a
'gateway' drug, sometimes leading to the use of more dangerous drugs,"
said Boston University Student Health Services Director Dr. David McBride.

He said marijuana smoke has the same carcinogens as tobacco smoke,
causing similar health defects. Long-term smoking of any kind can lead
to mouth and lung cancer and emphysema, McBride said.

BU School of Hospitality senior Sara Shein said marijuana has an
unfair stigma attached to it and its misperceptions make it seem more
harmful than it is.

"Many people use it to help with anxiety and I think it can help
people in a way that prescription medications can't," she said.

BU College of Communication freshman Sadaf Ayub said she has noticed
in her home state of California a smaller punishment for marijuana
possession would have few negative effects.

"I think people are more responsible about smoking in [California]
because the laws are less strict there," she said.