VOTE IN NOVEMBER TO CHANGE MARIJUANA LAW

TO the editor:

In Lawrence, Officer Tim Dube arrested five young men, not because
they possessed marijuana, but because they exercised their
Constitutional right not to consent to turn it over to him. While
under the current statutory law, Officer Dube had the power to arrest
them for three marijuana cigarettes does not make it just, nor a
reasonable use of police resources.

This Nov. 4, voters can end such injustice by voting yes on Question
2, the initiative petition for "An Act Establishing a Sensible State
Marihuana Policy."

Had the law proposed by Question 2 been the law on Wednesday night,
Officer Dube would have the power to search for the marijuana and
seize the three cigarettes. He would not have the power to arrest,
only the power to issue citations, for a civil offense with a civil
penalty of $100. The $100 for each citation would go to the city or
town where the offense occurred, in this case Lawrence, and Officer
Dube would stay out on patrol, instead of at the station writing his report.

Steven S. Epstein

Georgetown