MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

What The Approval Of Question 2 Really Means

Fall River -- The approval of ballot question 2 in Massachusetts has
sparked some confusion over what this actually means:

1. Marijuana is not legal. While decriminalizing possession of
marijuana (up to one ounce) has removed criminal penalties, other
state and local regulations continue to apply. Possession of more
than one ounce results in criminal penalties.

2. Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana can
result in imprisonment for up to two and a half years, a fine up to
$5,000, or both.

3. If a youth under 18 is charged with possession of up to an ounce
of marijuana, the offender gets a $100 fine, must participate in a
drug awareness program including 10 hours of community service, and
the law requires parental notification.

According to the National Institutes of Health and the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, short-term dangers associated with marijuana
usage include: impaired memory; difficulty thinking and problem
solving; anxiety or paranoia; impaired judgment; impaired driving
skills; cardiac problems Other potential health problems include
increased risk of: respiratory ailments including chronic cough,
bronchitis and emphysema; addiction; behavioral problems in a child
when used by a mother during pregnancy; developing cancer; all the
other health problems associated with smoking tobacco

Marijuana is not a harmless product. It is a brain-altering drug
containing the chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

If you or someone you know has a marijuana problem, please visit
www.boldcoalition.org for a list of treatment options.