SELECTMEN BALK AT NON-BINDING REFERENDUM

Selectmen have balked for a second year at placing a nonbinding referendum
legalizing marijuana on the town ballot.

Bryan Harvey, who chairs the selectmen, said he didn't object to a vote on
legalization, but he opposed a portion of the question that urged police to
de-emphasize the prosecution of marijuana possession laws. Brian Julin,
chairman of the coalition of campus and other groups pushing for
legalization of marijuana, said it will now seek to collect enough
signatures to force a referendum.

The group, which needs to collect about 1,750 signatures, fell 99
signatures short of the number needed to force a vote last year. It
wouldn't be the first time that the college town has sought to relax
marijuana laws.

In 1976, the Amherst Town Meeting endorsed the legalization of marijuana.

However, the state Legislature took no action on its suggestion.