SOME APPROVE OF POT LEGALIZATION FOR TAX REVENUE

Should marijuana use be legal in Massachusetts?

That polarizing question will be posed on the November ballot in
Salem, Marblehead and Swampscott. Voters in about two dozen other
communities will weigh in on similar proposals to legalize and tax
marijuana. Even if it passes, however, don't expect pot laws in those
towns and cities to change.

"This will do nothing," admitted attorney Steven Epstein, the founder
of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition. "This is non-binding.
It is an opinion poll. ... That's all it is."

Epstein hopes voter approval will help lay the foundation for a
statewide ballot question in a few years and convince out-of-state
donors that Massachusetts is ready for legalization.

The ballot question specifically asks voters their opinion of
"legislation that would allow the state to regulate the taxation,
cultivation, and sale of marijuana to adults."

Citing figures from a California analysis, Epstein estimated the
legalization of marijuana would generate $100 million in additional
revenue for Massachusetts.

"That's not including the hemp industry," said Epstein. In an
informal survey of about a dozen residents around Salem on Sunday,
about three-quarters of the people questioned were in favor of legalization.

"Why not?" asks Tony Dominguez, 32 of Salem. "Alcohol and cigarettes
are legal and how many people die from those everyday?

"The only reason (marijuana) isn't legal already is the government
wants to make sure they get their money from taxes. They don't care
about our health," he continued.

Tracy Ware, a biochemistry professor at Salem State College, says
she's in favor of legalizing the drug, citing benefits to the
economy, law enforcement and to society.

"It's a big waste of law enforcement; I'd much rather they
concentrate on (the opiate painkiller) Oxycontin in the high schools.
That has had a much more devastating effects from what I've seen in
my students," she said. "Students who smoke too much weed have less
motivation, but I don't think they smoke less because it's illegal.

"I certainly don't recommend smoking marijuana," she added. "I'm
guessing people are going to smoke it anyway and if you came in and
regulated sales and the system and the city could make some money, I
wouldn't object," said Iain Murray, 50, of Salem.

What about worries of increased drug use "" many say marijuana is a
gateway drug that leads users to try harder narcotics "" increased
crime, or increased use among young people?

"It hasn't happened in other states that have (legalized it for
medical reasons) so far," Ware said. "There is plenty of research
that demonstrates, frankly, that those assertions are unsupported."

A few of those polled, however, said they wouldn't support legalizing
the drug. In California "there has been abuse, because doctors are
handing it out like toilet paper," said Ken Sawicki of Salem, a
former candidate for Salem City Council. "There's a long history and
(legalization) would undermine all of the efforts we've made until
now" to fight drug abuse. Bonnie Larocque, a 44-year old mother from
Salem, said there's no way she would support legalizing pot.

"Not even a little bit; not even a joint, not even a roach. If I was
a cop and I found someone with it, I would arrest their ass," she
said, admitting that she used to smoke the drug, but gave it up years
ago after her children were born. "People smoke pot and do stupid
things." Supporters of legalization filed a bill in the last
legislative session to allow adults over 21 to grow their own
cannabis for personal use and to give it to others over 21. It would
have also established license fees and excise taxes on cannabis sold
at retail as well as created a regulatory Cannabis Control Authority.

Legislators ended the legislative session on July 31 without passing
the bill. Massachusetts residents are already smoking marijuana in
high numbers, said Epstein. He equated Bay Staters' disregard for the
marijuana laws to East Germans' flouting Soviet-imposed restrictions.

"They're just disobeying," said Epstein, of the Massachusetts
Cannabis Reform Coalition. "There's no consensus that marijuana
should be prohibited." State Rep. John Keenan (D-Salem) said that
while he supports the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, he's
against legalization, even if it does generate additional revenue for
a cash-strapped state. "Lots of times it's considered an initial step
to drug use," said Keenan. "Certainly there are some that can use it
in a controlled way, but I don't think it's a wise approach to use at
this time."

BOX Head shots

Michael Collins, age unknown, Salem "My initial feeling is marijuana
is a narcotic and we should treat it as such. ... Your ambitions
break down, your thought processes break down and you don't think
clearly and God forbid (you get behind the wheel) and hurt someone.
"If you're looking at taxes, fiscally speaking it can help out a lot.
If we really restricted it and watch it carefully, with the money
generated it could have a positive effect."

Dave Gallo, 35, Salem "I'm all for it. From a scientific geek
standpoint, alcohol compared to marijuana has many far worse effects. .

"If we make money off of it, we won't have to raise money in other
sectors. People will do it whether it's legal or not, and if my taxes
and your taxes go down as a result and it's done in a reasonable way,
why not?"

Ron Smith, 41, Lynn Marijuana "should have legalized 20 or more years
ago, because you can make money by taxing it.

"It's causing more issues now and wasting money now because we're
spending so much money to fight it."

Iain Murray, 50, Salem "The reason it's a gateway drug is not because
people need something stronger, it's because the person they're
buying it from don't just sell marijuana, they sell other things too
because (marijuana) is already illegal so why not? In terms of
raising money (from taxes) why not?"

Ken Sawicki, age unknown, of Salem, "I'm against legalization.
There's a long history and (legalization) would undermine all of the
efforts we've made until now (to fight drug abuse). I won't be
opposed to legalizing marijuana for medical reasons. I can't see
denying anyone their last dying wish, as long as it's strictly enforced."

Bonnie Larocque, 44, Salem "I don't support legalization, not even a
little bit; not even a joint, not even a roach. If I was a cop and I
found someone with it, I would arrest their ass. ... People smoke pot
and do stupid things."