The below was adopted by the City Council at its meeting on February 26, 2009 and signed by the Mayor on March 2, 2009, from which date the twenty day right of referendum begins to run.

Any Salem residents who want to attempt a referendum to repeal contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it !

Chapter 24 Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions is hereby amended by adding the following new section:

Sec. 24-19.5 Public Consumption of Marijuana or Tetrahydrocannibol

No person shall smoke, ingest, or otherwise use or consume marihuana or tetrahydrocannibol as defined in G.L. c. 94C, § 1, as amended while in or upon any public way, or any way to which the public has a right of access, any place to which the public have access as invitees or licensees, any street, sidewalk, footway, passageway, stairs, bridge, park, playground, beach, recreation area, boat landing, public building, school house, school grounds, cemetery, parking lot, or any area by or under the control of the City of Salem, or in or upon any bus or other passenger conveyance operated by a common carrier; or any private land, building structure or place without the consent of the owner or person in control thereof, in any place accessible to the public.

This ordinance may be enforced through any lawful means in law or in equity including, but not limited to, enforcement by criminal indictment or complaint pursuant to G.L. c. 40, § 21, or by noncriminal disposition pursuant to G.L. c. 40, § 21D, by any police officer. The fine for violation of this ordinance shall be three hundred dollars for each offense. Any penalty imposed under this by-law shall be in addition to any civil penalty imposed under G.L. c. 94C, § 32L.