GOUVEIA: MARIJUANA BILL NOT LIBERAL PLOT

Memo to state representatives Betty Poirier, Phil Travis and John Lepper:

Stop trying to blame liberals and liberal philosophies for your
failure to accomplish your legislative goals, never mind all the
ills of society. Stop being hypocrites by pandering to what you see
as your conservative base.

These three legislators took stands recently when a legislative
committee voted overwhelmingly to recommend a bill that would
decriminalize the possession of less than ounce of marijuana. Instead
of being a criminal offense, the violation would be civil in nature
and carry a $250 fine. Several states have passed similar bills in
recent years.

Rep. Travis called the proposal going "...down that liberal route
again." Rep. Poirier said she was not surprised at the committee's
recommendation because the chairman, Rep. Ruth Balser, has "a very
liberal view." Although acknowledging that Balser is a psychologist
and "well versed" in mental health, she said reducing marijuana to a
civil infraction would be wrong.

"It sends a terrible message to everyone, especially our youth, to
say marijuana is not a big deal," Poirier told a local paper. "Any
kind of substance abuse that is tolerated by our society is going to
be the downfall of our society."

Poirier doesn't seem to understand that marijuana use is not being
condoned by this proposed law. It would still be illegal, and carry
a fine. What would change is people found in possession of less than
one single ounce of the fairly common substance would not be branded
a criminal. That is neither liberal nor conservative - it is just
common sense.

Abuse of any substance is a bad thing. But the fact of the matter is
marijuana is a common drug that has been used in this country by
millions of Americans for generations. I am neither condoning its use
nor promoting it - I am merely commenting on the obvious.

Does marijuana lead to the use of narcotics and stronger drugs? Yes,
it sometimes does - just as alcohol and tobacco do. But since the
generation that is now making the laws in this society grew up with
alcohol and tobacco, but not marijuana, they consider what they do
not understand as the greater evil.

The committee's purpose in recommending the law is "to develop
programs of prevention, education and treatment and shift away from
an involvement with the criminal justice system," according to
Chairman Balser.

Unfortunately, our local legislators seem incapable of viewing it as
anything but a liberal ploy to undermine this country's values. That
is a shortsighted view, and one that serves their political careers
more than the people they represent.

Representatives Lepper and Poirier say social issues such as this
are being advanced by the legislature instead of the important,
critical issues of the day. "The story of the past year has been
all these social issues instead of the Legislature doing its job,"
Poirier stated.

This is funny, coming from some of the largest proponents of a
constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and
write discrimination into our state Constitution. That issue has
dominated the political landscape for the past several years, while
issues like health insurance, education and the budget have
languished in legislative purgatory.

You have to wonder if our local legislators really believe keeping
people who love each other from marrying, and making criminals out
of those who use marijuana in moderation, are the most important
issues for Massachusetts.

But let's be clear on one thing. I don't think these legislators are
wrong because they are conservatives. I just think they are wrong.

I guess that must mean I'm in on the liberal plot too.