OFFICIALS UNITE TO FIGHT MARIJUANA INITIATIVE

Proponents Allege Campaign Wrongs

Law enforcement officials statewide are uniting against a referendum
question they fear will increase marijuana use among teenagers and
generate more crime across the state.

The state's 11 district attorneys are unanimously opposing Question 2
and are being joined by police chiefs and some community groups,
fearing it will undo years of effort to reduce drug use among
teenagers. Governor Deval Patrick's administration also is opposed,
according to a spokesman.

"Teenage marijuana use is down, and this is a good thing," said
Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley. "This is a bad, bad
message for our kids."

But supporters of Question 2, who are organized under the name
Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy, are striking back. Today,
they plan to announce that they have applied for criminal complaints
against unnamed district attorneys for alleged campaign law
violations, according to Whitney Taylor, the group's executive director.

Taylor refused to be more specific about the allegations, which will
be the subject of an 11 a.m. press conference outside Edward
W. Brooke Courthouse in Boston, about three hours before prosecutors
and police hold their own at the State House.

Taylor said that if Question 2 passes, marijuana will still be an
illegal drug. And, she said, the new approach will increase parental
involvement in marijuana cases for those under 18 years old because
police will be required to notify parents about the civil
matter. She said those under 18 must complete drug awareness
training and do 10 hours of community service.

Parents "are brought right in, and they get to focus on the young
people," she said. "We do not promote or condone marijuana use."

Taylor said teenagers would benefit by the change because they would
no longer have a record in the state's criminal history databases,
one that could haunt them later in life when they apply for jobs.

But according to prosecutors, under current law, those arrested with
an ounce or less of marijuana automatically have their case continued
without a finding for six months, and if they do not violate the law,
their criminal file is sealed.

"Nobody goes to jail today for simple possession of marijuana," said
Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, who is listed as the
treasurer for the opponents, who are using the name Coalition for
Safe Streets during the campaign.

Blodgett said the criminal records are sealed and that most people
who have a marijuana possession entry on their the criminal record
also have more serious charges, such as gun possession.

But Taylor said the phrase "sealed record" on someone's dossier makes
people more suspicious - not less - about a person's background.

Blodgett and Conley also lashed out at New York billionaire George
Soros, who donated $400,000 to the group last year, according to the
state Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

That pro-Question 2 group has $152,000 on hand, according to the most
recent report posted by the state. Opponents have $6,000, with the
bulk of the money raised and spent so far having been provided by
district attorneys, who donated about $2,000 each from their own
campaign accounts, state records show.

This weekend, a pro-Question 2 group, the Massachusetts chapter of
the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws, will hold its
annual rally in Boston.