VOTERS GOING TO POT

Marijuana activists say the people have spoken. But are the
politicians listening?

The consensus among the members of NORML, the National Organization
for the Reform of Marijuana Laws is no, the politicians aren't
listening. But that isn't stopping the organization from putting
decriminalization and legalization of marijuana for medicinal uses on
the election ballot this November.

There will be three marijuana-related questions for the voters to
consider when they go to the polls in November, which if passed will
be voted on by members of the House and Senate. The first question
calls for making possession of marijuana a civil violation like a
traffic ticket, and requiring the police to hold a person under the
age of 18 cited for possession until they are released to a parent or
legal guardian or brought before a judge. The second is along the
same lines, and asks for the penalty of possessing less than one
ounce of marijuana be a civil violation and subject to maximum fine
of $100 and not subject to any criminal penalties. The final question
asks for seriously ill patients, with their doctor's written
recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for
their personal medical use. The third question is the only one to be
decided by politicians representing Abington.

State Rep. Kathleen Teahan, D-Whitman, says that while she is in
favor of people with cancer or AIDS being allowed to use marijuana,
she isn't in favor of people growing marijuana, and thinks some
changes need to be made to the questions in order for them to pass.

" 'To be prescribed by a doctor' is what it should say," said
Teahan. "Then I'd totally be in favor."

While she believes the third question has a chance of passing, she
thinks the first and second don't. Teahan said that she has not heard
from anyone who says that the penalties need to be relaxed, and
doesn't think the penalties should be lessened until cannabis is
legalized for medical purposes.

Jim Pillsbury, the spokesman for Metrowest NORML, says that while
people are outwardly silent about these issues, in the voting booths
they want to see them passed. According to Pillsbury, the lessening
of penalties has passed by at least 60 percent everywhere the question
has been presented, but despite this support, the House and Senate
continually ignore these bills when they are presented to them.

"The House ignores a lot of things. They ignore the voters, court
rulings and they may ignore this," said Pillsbury. "They've ignored
it up until this point."

Pillsbury says the support for allowing marijuana for medicinal use
has also received huge support from the people. The questions being
presented are related, he said, since people who use marijuana
medically are often arrested, even though the drug can sometimes be
their only relief from the disease or from the treatment they have to
undergo.

The movement has made some progress so far. According to Pillsbury
over 52 cities and towns have voted in favor of lessening the
penalties, which a lot of people have seen as a way to save money in
law enforcement.

"The law is wasting its time by trying to lock up pot smokers," said
Pillsbury.

For the past 12 years the organization has been pushing the medical
issue. and for longer than the 30 years the group has been active,
people have been working to get the penalties lessened. The group
started polling the public four years ago to get a better idea where
their supporters were.

At this point, Pillsbury says the fate of the questions will depend
on who is at the helm of the House and Senate after the election in
November.

"The winds of change don't change very fast anymore," said
Pillsbury, "But that doesn't stop us from doing the best we can to
change things."

Along with the 7th Plymouth House district, which includes Abington,
question three will also go before Worcester and Norfolk Senate, the
third Berkshire House and the 24th Middlesex House districts.