Victory! Worcester City Council rejects resolution to oppose Massachusetts marijuana decriminalization initiative

Thanks to the quick reaction of Question 2 supporters, the Worcester City Council yesterday rejected a motion to oppose Question 2, the Massachusetts marijuana decriminalization initiative sponsored by the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy (CSMP), in a whopping 10-1 vote. The resolution literally had the support of only one councilor — the individual who introduced it. The resolution was ruled out of order because the overwhelming majority of the council rightly argued that opposing a ballot initiative did not fall under the supervision of local government, and we have good reason to state that phone calls and pressure from constituents played a key role in compelling the council to do the right thing.

Again, thank you.

Unfortunately, this positive end result came after a series of outrageous lies by Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. and William T. Breault, chairman of the Main South Alliance for Public Safety. Some of these outright falsehoods are enumerated below. Would you please consider donating to CSMP today to help combat opponents who are clearly willing to say anything to defeat Question 2?

Among other absurd claims, these two hard-core prohibitionists argued before the council that:

• No criminal records are produced under current law, an outright and  demonstrable lie. A Criminal Offender Record Information report (or CORI) is generated upon arrest, regardless of conviction or future legal action — a fact the DA knows well, and the reforming of which was one of the central planks of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's successful gubernatorial campaign.

• Question 2 legalizes drugs, rather than simply — and modestly — removing  criminal penalties for an ounce or less of marijuana and converting the current law into a system of civil infractions in which offenders will receive a $100 fine;

• Question 2 sends the wrong message to children, despite the fact that it's stricter than the current law on juveniles but does not result in a permanent arrest record that will haunt them for the rest of their lives;

• Question 2 will increase car accidents, though it in no way affects current  regulations, and there's not a shred of evidence to support this from the other 11 states with similar laws; and

• Question 2 won't result in financial savings because offenders do not currently go to jail, despite the fact that substantial police and court costs are incurred simply by processing offenders.

Once again, it's clear that opponents of a sensible marijuana policy will say virtually anything to scare voters — and, in this case, other elected officials — into opposing Question 2. Thanks to your rapid response, the Worcester City Council recognized these claims for what they were — baseless.

Thank you for the actions you've taken so far to set the stage for victory at the ballot booth this November. Would you please consider donating $10 to the Yes on 2 campaign today, so CSMP has the resources to fend off these outrageous attacks?

Together, we are stronger than the insidious falsehoods put forth by the opposition, and Massachusetts voters will make history this November.