BPD: JUST SAY NO TO POT

Police Speak Out Against Ballot Question No. 2 As Vote Draws Near
What Saying 'Yes' Means

If the ballot initiative passes, adults caught with less than an
ounce of marijuana would pay a $100 fine. Offenders under 18 years
old would be required to hand over the marijuana, pay the same fine
and complete a drug awareness program.

With Election Day right around the corner, opponents of a ballot
question that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of
marijuana are turning up the heat, while supporters are hoping their
dwindling lead in recent polls can hold on for a few more days.

Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis and Suffolk County District
Attorney Daniel Conley spoke Thursday in opposition of the measure,
saying it sends a message that Massachusetts is soft on drug crimes.

"If drug possession is treated like a traffic violation, there will
be an increase in marijuana use and sales in our community," they
said in a statement. A group of Hub ministers have also urged clergy
from across the state to plead with churchgoers on Sunday to vote 'no.'

Meanwhile, advocates of Question 2 on Thursday picked up an
endorsement from the Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts, which argued
the current law causes offenders to have a lifelong criminal record
and hurts their job prospects.

Supporters also say the measure would save the state money in
prosecuting those cases.

A Suffolk University/WHDH poll found last week that 51 percent of
those surveyed supported the ballot question, while 32 percent
opposed it, and 16 percent were undecided. However, that 19 percent
margin has narrowed considerably since a similar poll in August, when
supporters enjoyed a 50 percent lead.