REGION SUPPORTS CHANGE IN MARIJUANA LAW

To the Editor:

By almost two to one voters with an opinion in the Second Essex and Third
Essex and Middlesex state senate districts agree: Marijuana possession
should be a civil violation like a traffic ticket (with the municipality
receiving half of the fines collected on citations issued within their
jurisdiction) instead of a criminal offense; with a requirement that police
hold a person under 18 who is cited for possession until he or she is
released to a parent or legal guardian or brought before a judge.

Here are the unofficial totals from Tuesday's election, with a yes
vote signifying support for the idea of making marijuana possession a
civil, rather than criminal, violations: Beverly, 11,761 yes, 6,342
no; Danvers, 7,539 yes, 4,867 no; Peabody, 13,644 yes, 8,671 no;
Salem, 10,810 yes, 5,341 no; Topsfield, 2,127 yes, 1,349 no;
Marblehead, 7,385 yes, 3,702 no; Swampscott, 4,850 yes, 2,213 no.

Steven S. Epstein

Georgetown