COMMITTEE BACKS EASING OF MARIJUANA POSSESSION PENALTIES

Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana would no longer be a
criminal offense under a bill that won the backing of a legislative
committee yesterday. The bill, approved by the Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Committee on a 6-1 vote, would make possession of a
small amount of marijuana a civil offense punishable by a $250 fine.

In cases involving those 18 years old or younger, parents would be
notified. Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is now
considered a criminal offense, punishable by up to six months in jail
and a $500 fine for the first offense. Senator Steven A. Tolman, a
Brighton Democrat and the cochairman of the committee, said the goal
is to make sure that someone arrested with a small amount of marijuana
doesn't have a criminal record that could make it difficult to get
into college, obtain student loans, and find a job. Critics of the
bill say it could encourage the use of marijuana by easing some of the
social stigma attached to it.

The House chairwoman of the committee, Representative Ruth B. Balser,
Democrat of Newton, said the focus should be on prevention, not jail
time. "A priority of our committee is to develop programs of
prevention, education, and treatment and shift away from an
involvement with the criminal justice system," Balser said.

The committee's approval is the first step in a long process. The bill
must be approved by the House and Senate and sent to Governor Mitt
Romney's desk. If Romney vetoed the bill, it would need a two-thirds
majority in both chambers to override the veto.

Several states have approved similar legislation.