As the Annual Town Meeting season begins we are learning of towns that will have local bylaws increasing the penalty if captured in the act of consumption or possession in a vehicle.

Please let us know at treasurer(at)masscann.org if you learn of such outrageous proposal in your town or city.

Cities and Towns With Public Consumption Laws through October 20, 2010 

There are a number of actions one can take to defeat these proposals.

1)  Go to Selectmen's meeting when they are considering inclusion of the article and object.  If police are complaining about inability to enforce state law, tell them to file Small Claims Complaints.

2)   If your Town has an Open Meeting where all registered voters can participate talk about proposal with friends and neighbors before the meeting:

a)   Move to pass over or table;
b)   Move to amend by limiting geographic scope, e.g., to specific locations as in Methuen in 2009 and to reduce the penalty to a smaller amount, it was reduced to $50, in Swampscott in 2009;
c)   Move that the Article be placed on the next possible election ballot;

d)   Move for the vote on the article to be taken by secret ballot at Town Meeting.

THE TOWNS CONSIDERING THE MADNESS           

WENHAM -  The Police Department has requested possible bylaw covering marijuana to be inlcuded on the May 7 Annual Meeting Warrant.