NO NEED TO INCREASE MARIJUANA FINES

To the editor:

The proposal to increase marijuana fines in Newburyport goes against
the basic principles of representative government.

Newburyport voters just approved Question 2 in November by 7,261 to
3,483, a margin of 68 percent to 32 percent. That is over 2 to 1 in
favor of reducing the penalty for marijuana possession - in public or
private - to a $100 civil fine.

Under Question 2, any person using marijuana in public can be punished
with a $100 fine that goes to the town, plus community service and
classes for minors. Under current town ordinances, the penalty for
drinking alcohol in public is a $50 fine.

The penalty for public use of marijuana as set by Newburyport voters
is already double the fine for alcohol consumption. There is no need
for further meddling with the will of the voters.

Scott Mortimer

Newburyport