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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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US: Marijuana decriminalization passes by wide margin Dan Atkinson Daily News Wednesday 05 Nov 2008 NEWBURYPORT — Area voters joined the rest of the state in approving by a 2-1 ratio a measure to decriminalize marijuana, according to unofficial ballot results last night. Question 2, which asked voters to decriminalize possession of an ounce or less of marijuana to a civil offense punishable by a $100 fine for people over 18, passed in the area by about 30,400 votes to 15,300, including a 7,200 to 3,500 margin in Newburyport, a 5,800 to 2,600 margin in Amesbury and a 2,800 to 1,400 margin in Salisbury. The measure will go into effect four weeks after the election is certified by the secretary of state. Steve Epstein, a Georgetown resident and a director of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, said he was pleased by the question's success and thought it could have passed by an even wider margin. "It feels great," Epstein said. "I think we could've busted 70 percent with a real campaign." Many voters said decriminalization was a reasonable step. Newburyport resident Mike Slobodnik voted yes on 2 and said he has "been in trouble" with police regarding marijuana before. Many people use marijuana, he said, and changing the law would bring it in step with the times and allow police to focus on other problems. "They should be out doing better things," Slobodnik said. Newburyport resident Dale Eckert said the current law might benefit from change, but he voted no because he thought decriminalization should only be for people older than 21. To do otherwise would encourage younger people to use the drug, he said. But that opinion comes from the benefit of experience, Eckert said. "Twenty years ago, I might have said different," he joked. Amesbury resident Monica Brile said she voted yes so younger people wouldn't have a felony on their record for using marijuana. "I'd hate for people to not be able to get jobs for what was perhaps a dumb mistake," Brile said. "I'm a high school teacher. I know kids make mistakes." Some voters saw decriminalization as a first step toward eventual legalization of marijuana but differed on whether or not that was a good thing. Dawn Robertson, a Newburyport resident who voted yes, said decriminalization and then legalization would stop wasting tax dollars and jail space. But Salisbury resident George Beaton, who voted no, said any small change in the law would lead to big problems later on. "You start with a crack and you get a canyon," Beaton said. Amesbury resident Norma Cote voted yes, but said one chance is all any offender should get. "The second time, lock them up forever," Cote said. Pat Sharkey, another Salisbury resident who voted no, also said that decriminalization would increase marijuana use in general. For Salisbury resident Ann Nichols, though, marijuana is not as big a concern as legal substances, like alcohol. Her sister lost a leg after an accident caused by a six-time drunken driver, which gives her a different perspective on a "natural herb" like marijuana, Nichols said. "It's a little bit ridiculous to focus on marijuana when there's repeat offenders with DUIs out there," Nichols said. And for Salisbury voter Dorothy Charette, a vote to approve Question 2 was a vote to lighten her workload. "I work for a courthouse, so if this will make it less crowded, why not?" Charette joked. http://www.newburyportnews.com/punews/local_story_310000430.html
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