Post Election News and Opinion to December 31, 2008

We post the news each morning to provide our site visitors with news they can use to be vocal!

With the passage of Q2 comes a backlash to establish local oridinances and by-laws
increasing the total fines and “Reefer Mad” Martha Coakley is suggesting these local
laws create an arrestable midemeanor!  We are maintaining a list of such attempts HERE!

Please be ready to attend local hearings or to contact officials in your community to speak out against your community becoming heavy handed!

Fitchburg police chief pushes for pot law
Sentinel & Enterprise – Dec. 31

Editorial: It’s still illegal
Worcester Telegram – Dec. 31

Editorial: Reaping what we sow
Boston Herald – Dec. 31

Letter: Blowing smoke
Boston Herald – Dec. 31

State safety chief sees ‘effective implementation of marijuana law
Wicked Local Gloucester – Dec. 30

Chiefs Concerned About Enforcing New Pot Law
WBZ-TV Video – Dec. 30

Play video
Cities, towns could boost marijuana fines
NECN – Dec. 30

Play Audio
HEADLINES
WEEI – Dec. 30

New marijuana law applies to hashish?
Berkshire Eagle – Dec. 30

Pot law rules in a haze
Sun Chronicle – Dec. 30

New pot laws have some police confused
Eagle-Tribune – Dec. 30

Joint move to target public pot smoking
Boston Herald – Dec. 30

Mass. offers tips to police for enforcing new marijuana law
Boston Globe – Dec. 30

New pot rules may allow having hashish
Boston Herald – Dec 29

State cuts through haze of marijuana law, set to take effect Friday
Enterprise News – Dec. 30

Caught using, risk losing
Worcester Telegram – Dec. 30

State safety chief sees ‘effective implementation of marijuana law
Ipswich Chronicle – Dec 30

State safety chief sees “effective implementation” of pot law
Wellesley Townsman – Dec. 30

Pot law will go into effect on schedule
Cape Cod Times – Dec 30

Police hash out marijuana law
Standard-Times – Dec. 30

State cuts through haze of marijuana law, set to take effect Friday
Patriot Ledger – Dec. 30

New pot rules may include hashish
Lowell Sun – Dec. 30

Mass. says new pot law allows other THC drugs, too
Metrowest Daily News – Dec. 30
Mass. says new pot law allows other THC drugs, too
Milford Daily News – Dec. 30

New pot rules may allow having hashish
Boston Herald – Dec 29

Mass. says new pot law allows other THC drugs, too
Daily News Tribune – Dec. 29

New Marijuana Rules May Allow Having Hashish
Boston Channel.com – Dec. 29

New pot rules in Mass. may allow having hashish
Worcester Telegram – Dec. 29

New pot rules in Mass. may allow having hashish
The Republican – Dec. 29

Editorial: Making a simple law too complicated
Milford Daily News – Dec. 28
Editorial: Making a simple law too complicated
Daily News Tribune – Dec. 28
Editorial: Making a simple law too complicated
MetroWest Daily News – Dec. 28  

Editorial: Making a simple law about marijuana too complicated
Enterprise News – Dec 26

Pot law could snuff out testing policy

Play Audio
12/11/08: Generally Speaking with MA AG Martha Coakley
(Thu, 11 Dec 2008 |  37 minutes)
Jim & Margery Podcast

Column: Public hoodwinked about pot law
Wellesley Townsman – Dec 4

Marijuana won’t be decriminalized until January
Daily News Transcript, MA – Dec. 4
Marijuana won’t be decriminalized until January
Daily News Tribune, MA – Dec. 4
Marijuana won’t be decriminalized until January
Milford Daily News – Dec. 4
Marijuana won’t be decriminalized until January
Taunton Daily Gazette- Dec. 4
Marijuana won’t be decriminalized until January
MetroWest Daily News – Dec. 4

Confusion cited over marijuana law
The Republican – Dec. 4

Mass District Attorneys Still Fighting Question 2
The Phoenix – Dec. 3

Marijuana decriminalization presenting logistical hurdles
Belmont Citizen-Dec. 2
Note this is the State House News Service Story and the SNHS receives advertising dollars from O’Neil & Associates, the PR firm hired by opponents of Question 2

SPEAK OUT: Weed is no longer a crime; how did we get here?
The Patriot Ledger – Nov 29 Police prepare for changes in marijuana possession laws
Wareham Courier – Nov 26

Letter: How marijuana came to be outlawed
The Salem News  – Nov. 25

My View: Clear and present danger — Marijuana and the …
The Salem News – Nov. 20

Letter: Talking to teens about drugs? Tell the truth
Boston Globe, Nov 20

REGION: New marijuana law forces retooling of substance abuse strategy
Boston Globe West Region, Nov 20

Opinion: Pot law throws kids under the bus
Marlborough Enterprise – Nov 19

Letter: Smoking pot is stupid, but it doesn’t warrant a …
The Patriot Ledger, Nov 19

Up in smoke
Daily Free Press, Boston Univ. Nov. 17

Letter: Prohibition fails
Boston Herald – Nov 17

Local cops prepare for new policing rules on pot
The Beacon, Acton, MA – Nov 17, 2008

Emerson lasy down the law about marijuana
Boston Globe – Nov 16

Letter: Question 2 backer looks forward to next steps
Lowell Sun – Nov 15 

Letter: Fighting marijuana vote ignores reality
Cape Cod Times – Nov 15

New Pot and Tobacco Laws
Fri, 14 Nov 2008 45 minutes)
WBUR: Radio Boston NOTE: marijuana is discussed in last 15 minutes.

A recap of the ballot question results
Norwell Mariner – Nov 14

Letter: Cannabis candor
Boston Herald – Nov 14

Putting the ‘War on Drugs’ behind bars
The Massachusetts Daily Collegian – Nov 14

Confusion on Question 2
The Massachusetts Daily Collegian – Nov 14

US appeals court hears arguments in ND hemp case
Telegram & Gazette – Nov 13 (AP)

Letter: Anti-reefer madness
Boston Herald – Nov 13
By Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of NORML

Local pot activists elated over decriminalization
Amherst Bulletin – Nov 13

Local chiefs consider how to enforce new marijuana rules
Pembroke Mariner & Reporter – Nov 13

Perspective: new voters, polling problems and other thoughts on …
Allston-Brighton TAB – Nov 13

Letter: Legislature passed on opportunity to address marijuana question
Salem News – Nov 13

Letter: Marijuana vote was predictable, not confusing
Eagle Tribune – Nov 13

Letter: District attorney’s alarm echoes ‘Reefer Madness’
Cape Cod Times – Nov 12

Letter: Why not ignore voters?
Boston Herald – Nov 12

Staff Editorial
The Suffolk Journal (College) – Boston – Nov 12

DA O’Keefe: Marijuana Referendum Was A Huge Mistake
Cape Cod Chronicle – Chatham – Nov 12

News Notes
The Boston – Bay State Banner – Nov 12

Between the Lines: The Pot Test
The Valley Advocate, Nov 13

STEIGERWALD: Yes, President Obama, you can try
The Herald News – Nov 12

LETTERS TO THE BOSTON GLOBE 11/11/08
Letter: A come-down from the high
Letter: Citizens had to act
Letter: Voters got it right

Column: Pot’s a gateway drug that leads to heartache

Joe Fitzgerald
Boston Herald – Nov 10

Column: Up in Smoke
Bella English
Boston Globe – Nov 10

Our view: Voters of two minds on substance abuse

Salem News – Nov 10 

Our view: Voters of two minds on substance abuse
Eagle Tribune – Nov 10

One up, On Down
Lowell Sun – Nov 9

Evans: Question 2 landslide opens drug policy debate
Metrowest Daily News – Nov 9

Evans: Question 2 landslide opens drug policy debate
Milford Daily News – Nov 9

Evans: Question 2 landslide opens drug policy debate
Daily News Tribune – Nov 9

Police and district attorneys not sure how to proceed with new pot law
Metrowest Daily News – Nov 9

Letters: Clearing the air on Question 2
Boston Globe Nov 9

Majority agrees that some users unduly punished
The Enterprise – Nov 9

Marijuana question raises some
The Republican – Nov 9

NH police expect change in Mass. drug laws will have an impact
Eagle Tribune – Nov. 9

Police fear new marijuana law will lead to increased use
Eagle Tribune – Nov. 9

Mass. marijuana law advocates aiming higher
The Republican – Nov 8

Letter: Officials must abide by Q 2
Berkshire Eagle – Nov 8

Why the pot question won big
Patriot Ledger – Nov. 8

Op Ed: No merit to Question 2 concerns
Berkshire Eagle – Nov. 8

Marijuana law advocates seek wider change
Boston Globe – Nov.8

Everybody mustn’t get stoned
Boston Herald – Nov.8

DA Leone to treat marijuana cases same till law takes effect
Lowell Sun, Nov. 7

Except from editorial in the Eagle Tribune, Nov. 7

Elsewhere on the ballot, voters said a resounding yes to Question 2, which will change simple possession of marijuana from a criminal offense to a misdemeanor.

Those who pushed for the change deserve to celebrate the overwhelming 65-35 percent victory. But they should keep in mind that this does not legalize pot. It does not make dealing drugs any less of a criminal offense than it was on Monday. It simply means that those who use an illegal intoxicant just for their own personal use will not be tarred with a criminal record for the rest of their lives.

That is a compromise that, given its broad public support, deserves a chance to work.

Except from editorial in the from the Lowell Sun, Nov. 7

Frankly, we still don’t understand what voters were thinking when they approved Question 2. If the question related to the medical use of marijuana, we could easily comprehend its passage, but it does not. It merely decriminalizes possession of an ounce or less of what remains an illegal substance.

Are we starting to throw up our hands in the fight against drug abuse? We certainly hope not. Drug abuse not only destroys those who become addicted, it also harms their family, friends, co-workers and society as a whole.

This law will become a chore for law-enforcement officials and for parents, as many teens will view marijuana with a less fearful eye.

Except from editorial in the from The Republican, Nov. 6

Question 2 does not make marijuana legal or excuse someone operating a vehicle under the influence of marijuana. And those caught with a bit of marijuana would receive a $100 fine – juveniles would have a citation delivered to a parent or guardian and would have to complete a drug awareness program and perform community service. It’s a sensible approach – plain and simple.