COUNCILOR SEES NEED TO MAKE MARIJUANA PENALTY HARSHER

NEWBURYPORT - Sometimes a measure proposed in the chambers of the City
Council can serve an educational purpose as well as a political one.

Brian Derrivan, a member of the council's Public Safety Committee,
recently introduced an initiative to stiffen local penalties for
possession of marijuana.

His proposal is still in committee, and, thus, no definitive language
has been finalized, but under the initial proposal, a fine for
possession in Newburyport would be increased to $300.

Since a statewide vote in 2008, possession of less than an ounce is a
civil violation subject to a $100 fine if the individual is over the
age of 18. If the person is under the age of 18, he or she must also
perform 10 hours of community service and enroll in an anti-drug abuse
program.

Derrivan said his goal is to educate, not to punish.

"The state has decreased penalties for possession, and one of my
concerns is that young people might have the perception that marijuana
is legal," said Derrivan, who is serving his third term."

Derrivan said that leaders at the city's youth services center
suggested tougher regulations, in part because they are seeing more
abuse.

Administrators at the high school, too, have reported that they are
seeing increased use.

Derrivan said about 14 high-schoolers have faced disciplinary action
this school year as a result of infractions involving marijuana.

"One of the reasons for bringing up the subject is to make it known
that there are consequences," Derrivan said.

Derrivan is a native of Peabody and has lived in Newburyport for 23
years. He is a regional sales representative for a kitchen-cabinet
manufacturer. He is councilor for Ward 5, which, among its other
assets, counts the city landfill within its boundaries.

"One of the reasons I got involved in city government was to try to
improve the landfill," he said.

Derrivan is also a member of the city's Planning and Development
Committee and has been a proponent of a senior/community center.

"I've supported a senior center for years, but the proposed center at
the site of the Bresnahan School would be a lot more than just for
seniors," the councilor said.

"We'd like to have it self-sustaining, and we'd like to have a variety
of organizations be part in the (renovated) building."

The marijuana measure he has proposed is currently awaiting action in
the Public Safety Committee. It is not clear if it will ever get the
support of committee members to send it to the full council.

Tom Jones, a member of the three-person committee, said he would
oppose a more stringent measure.

He said that when state officials put the matter of marijuana
regulations to a vote (in 2008), "close to 67 percent of Newburyport
voters" favored more lenient regulations.

He said that problems at the high school should not provoke harsher
rules in the city.

Councilor Robert Cronin, who chairs the committee, said he wants to
hear more opinions on the matter before taking a position on advancing
the measure from committee to council.

"I'd like to have a public hearing to hear more from both sides,"
Cronin said. "Nothing's been scheduled yet, but it could come up later
this year."

Derrivan doesn't know what exactly will happen to the measure but
said, "It's a matter of perception and awareness. If more young people
learn that there are still penalties for possession, that is a
positive thing."