BOSTON VOTERS SPEAK: IT IS HIGH TIME FOR DECRIMINALIZATION

You might not have been able to hear them on Election Day over the din of
Republicans cheering and clapping, but if you listened closely enough,
there they were: hundreds of lighters clicking aflame in celebration.

"The people have spoken," Bill Downing, president of MassCANN
(Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition) declared. Indeed, in 21 districts
across Massachusetts voters strongly supported non-binding, public policy
questions on their ballots pertaining to marijuana. In 19 of these
districts, two decriminalization questions were posed, while questions
concerning medicinal marijuana and the cultivation of hemp were on ballots
in two other districts.

The first decriminalization question asked if state representatives should
introduce and vote for legislation making possession of marijuana a civil
violation, like a traffic ticket, as opposed to a criminal offense. The
other question concerns possession of marijuana, inquiring if state
representatives should introduce and vote for legislation making possession
of less than one ounce of marijuana a civil violation and subject to a fine
no more than $100, with no criminal penalties. People voted overwhelmingly
in favor of both decriminalization questions, by more than 60 percent. And
with good reason, it appears. According to a recent report by the Drug
Policy Forum of Massachusetts, such a change to the criminal code on
marijuana use and possession would save the Commonwealth more than $24
million annually. No more arrests or costly court cases, and police could
focus their energies on serious crime.

In the 14th Worcester district, which includes Worcester and West Boylston,
voters were asked if their state representative should vote for legislation
allowing patients with certain diseases and letters of recommendation from
their doctors to legally possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for
their personal use. Again, over 60 percent of voters were in favor of this
type of legislation.

The only question that was not approved by a large margin pertained to the
ballots in the second Franklin district. Voters were surveyed as to whether
their state representative should support legislation allowing for the
cultivation of cannabis for commercial and industrial purposes. The towns
of Athol, Orange and Erving were opposed but were countered by approval
from Greenfield, Gill and Warwick.

So where did these questions come from? In order to pose non-binding,
public policy questions on ballots, petitions with 200-250 (depending on
the district) signatures must be collected. Enter MassCANN, the state
affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
(NORML). MassCANN amassed hundreds of signed petitions to get these
questions out there and make the state reps aware of what the people want.

The good folk of MassCANN were elated by the widespread support of the
ballot questions and have already started to think ahead, especially Downing.

iBefore the next election, we do have some things to work out. Basically
there are 20 more representatives who need to support decriminalization; we
need all representatives behind one bill to co-sponsor a decriminalization
bill. Some of the representatives will hem and haw, so we will have to do
some public relations-type work with them to let them know that they are
not representing their constituency fairly."

Downing also wants state representatives to recognize that the legislative
process and the public policy questions are iwell advertised, and if a
certain representative blocks the initiative, they are almost guaranteed
bad press, especially if their constituency wants a decrim bill to pass."

MassCANN is a public education organization, so political work is not their
main function, but Downing projects that in the next two years they will
continue their educational work as well as try to get a political party,
like the Democrats, to add to their platforms issues concerning medicinal
marijuana and marijuana law reform.

As for now, Downing asserts that the most important thing is for people to
write to their representatives, asking them to please co-sponsor a bill to
decriminalize marijuana. iThe numbers are there," says Downing. iThe vox
populi is known." If all of the state representatives fail to co-sponsor
such a bill then Downing is resolute, iWe will try to prepare for a
statewide ballot initiative."

Two statewide initiatives failed on Election Day, Question 9 in Nevada and
Proposition 203 in Arizona. If Question 9 had passed, Nevada would have
been the first state with legal marijuana, while Proposition 203 was
concerned with medicinal marijuana and making possession of marijuana a
civil violation.

Therefore, the people of Massachusetts should hold their heads high (pun
intended?), and be proud of themselves and their voting peers, disregarding
Mitt Romney, of course. Massachusetts is the cool kid on the block now, and
hopefully every state is going to want to be just like us.