Cape Cod: Voters set to ponder legalized pot

[argoagro]

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100925/NEWS/9250330/-1/comm16

September 25, 2010

FALMOUTH — Possessing small amounts of marijuana has already been decriminalized, but could legalization be next?
The idea might not be so far out, man.
Voters in Falmouth precincts 1, 2, 5 and 6, as well as on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, will weigh in on a nonbinding ballot question in November regarding legislation that would allow the state to regulate and tax marijuana in the same fashion as alcohol, said attorney Steven Epstein, a founder of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition.
"Anybody who has a rational mind will see it's just wrong not to make money on it," Epstein said. "Put it in stores and regulate it."
The ballot question is based on House of Representatives Bill 2929, which is "an act to regulate and tax the cannabis industry" and is modeled after the state Alcohol Beverage Control Act. The question is only being considered in communities where supporters gathered at least 200 signatures to place the nonbinding measure on the ballot.
The bill would make marijuana legal for people 21 and older, allowing consumers to grow and share their own marijuana just as people who brew their own beer, Epstein said. But the state would become the dealer.
The Bill 2929 seeks to create a Cannabis Control Authority, similar to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, which would oversee the issuance of licenses to cultivate, process, trade and import marijuana.
Epstein said the bill calls for establishing license fees and excise taxes on cannabis sold at retail, adding it would create new jobs.
The state already imposes excise taxes on cigarettes and alcohol. In fiscal year 2009, the state Department of Revenue collected $587 million in cigarette taxes and $72 million from the alcohol excise tax. If the marijuana bill is approved, Epstein said marijuana sales could bring in as much as $600 million in new revenue to state coffers each year, which is on par with casino gambling revenue projections.
But at least one local law enforcement official said Epstein is simply blowing smoke because the financial benefits are outweighed by the negative impacts on the community.
"Pot is not alcohol. It's not even close. Not even in the same league," Falmouth Police Chief Anthony Riello said. "You don't necessarily get drunk when you drink alcohol if you just have a little, but you smoke pot for one reason: to get high."
Riello vehemently opposed the marijuana decriminalization ballot question two years ago that made possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana a civil infraction punishable by a $100 fine.
He said the decriminalization measure was simply a way for pro-pot groups such as the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws to get their foot in the door as they move toward completely legalizing marijuana.
Riello said marijuana is "definitely a gateway drug."
"Marijuana opens the door, and it's illegal for a reason," he said. "I've never met anyone who said he started with heroin or crack."
While Epstein said that anything taken in excess is bad for one's health, he said marijuana is no more dangerous than eating fatty foods, drinking soda or drinking alcohol on a regular basis. He said opposition to legalization from police officials is "all about protecting their power."
But state Rep. Matt Patrick, D-Falmouth, said he sees too many problems with addiction to add another substance, legally controlled or not. "At this stage of the game, I can't support it," he said. "I would have to see a lot more work on that before I even come close."

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

^uh oh cali is getting some competition, better vote yes in november or your state will miss out on being number one. :0

 

[supermanlives]

i will be moving back if it passes . i miss the cape

 

[JTDuffet]

"Pot is not alcohol. It's not even close. Not even in the same league," Falmouth Police Chief Anthony Riello said. "You don't necessarily get drunk when you drink alcohol if you just have a little, but you smoke pot for one reason: to get high."

What a crock of shit.... if thats the case, why not make all bars and alcohol serving establishments create a 2 drink limit on all customers... it would make sense.. i mean, your not drinking that alcohol to feel it after all... let's make it fair across the boards...

getting out my petition forms...

-jt

 

[clampie]

Current laws??

Current laws??

I'm curious what the current laws are in your state (Massachusetts) regarding cultivation.. Number of plants equaling a felony, etc....

Any Mass residents (or otherwise) know this? What about other states in New England?

thanks!

 

[Iron_Lion]

I'm curious what the current laws are in your state (Massachusetts) regarding cultivation.. Number of plants equaling a felony, etc....

Any Mass residents (or otherwise) know this? What about other states in New England?

thanks!

Check out the lax pot laws in Maine, got this from norml.org

Usable amount with proof of physician's recommendation none none none
"Usable Amount" (under <2.5 oz) civil violation none $350 - $600
subsequent violation within 6 months $550
2.5 oz or more Presumption of Sale, Rebuttable
Cultivation
5 plants or less class E misdemeanor 6 months $1,000
5 - 100 plants class D misdemeanor 1 year $2,000
100 - 500 plants class C felony 5 years $5,000
More than 500 plants class B felony 10 years $20,000
Sale
1 lb or less class D misdemeanor 1 year $2,000
1 lb - 20 lbs class C felony
5 years
$5,000
20 lbs or more class B felony 10 years $20,000
Sale to minor or within 1,000 feet of a school or on a school bus felony
5 years
$5,000
Miscellaneous (paraphernalia, license suspensions, drug tax stamps, etc...)
Paraphernalia possession and use civil violation none $300
Paraphernalia sale misdemeanor 6 months $1,000
Paraphernalia sale to a minor misdemeanor 1 year $2,000
Any conviction may cause professional license suspension or revocation.

 

[Deft]

I lived in mass most of my life, but never went past the ditch, never been to the cape. If this passes, when I go back I will head down for some fishing and to see how this goes.

 

[supermanlives]

stripers for everyone ooh i mean strippers. cape fishing great . get some bigass eels and hold on to your rod.

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

hell ya fishing and toking. great activity

 

[guest121295]

Most of the cape is pretty liberal in regards to weed.The laws are basically unenforced unless you are a total fool.We have much bigger problems than weed, like having none!

 

[WasntMe]

A ride down the Cape Cod bike path is a great "tour de pot". As you pass each pond, kettle pond and cranberry bog it is easy to find sweet herb growing scattered within the bushes and brush around the water. Especially in the Harwich thru Welfleet areas.

 

[Deft]

I want a bass so big I'd get spooled with anything less than 25lb line. I only ever had luck with top water in the ditch. Never tried real eels there though, heard they are awesome.

 

[supermanlives]

bass river and eels or the herring run on the canal with porgies, herring

 

[The Baphomet]

Pencils in the canal at dawn are deadly !

 

[WasntMe]

blue crab'n on bass river.

 

[guest121295]

Live whiting off Long point in P-town...or chunks...

 

[Leroy Brown]

Fuck yeah my brothers! The voters have stoken!

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Falmouth voters OK legalizing marijuana
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By Aaron Gouveia
[email protected]
November 03, 2010

Voters in Falmouth overwhelmingly passed a nonbinding ballot question seeking to legalize and tax marijuana.

The measure appeared on the ballots in precincts 1, 2, 5 and 6 and was approved 3,840-2,355, or 62 percent to 38 percent.
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The question was also on ballots on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, but those numbers were not available as of the Times' deadline.

Based on the House of Representatives Bill 2929, the bill would legalize marijuana and allow the state to regulate it and tax it.

If approved, marijuana would be legal for those 21 and older, allowing consumers to grow and share their own marijuana and create a Cannabis Control Authority similar to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.

The bill also calls for establishing license fees and excise taxes on cannabis sold at retail.

Supporters of the bill estimate such a tax could bring in as much as $600 million in new revenue each year, a number on par with casino gambling revenue projections.