Marijuana Penalty Reform Advocates Ask Lawmakers to Heed the Will of Voters
BOSTON, Mass. -- Defenders of the ballot initiative to end marijuana arrests for small possession violations, passed by 65 percent of Massachusetts voters in November, held a press conference today to protest legislative attempts to undermine the law.
The press conference preceded a Joint Committee on the Judiciary hearing to consider numerous bills designed to subvert the will of the voters and undo the reforms instituted by Question 2 by increasing penalties for low-level marijuana violations. Advocates noted that the attempts to weaken Question 2 demonstrate a lack of respect by lawmakers toward their constituents.
"Massachusetts residents spoke loud and clear when they passed Question 2 in November, which has since been implemented across the state without any problems," said Matt Allen, deputy director of New England Policy Advocates. "The only complaints about the implementation of the law are coming from people who opposed it from the beginning. Legislators should respect the will of the voters, move on, and start tackling the bigger issues currently facing Massachusetts."
Horace Small, executive director of the Union of Minority Neighborhoods, said the proposals also will create the kinds of social injustices Question 2 was designed to correct. "Creating additional penalties for marijuana possession will result in more criminal records, more youth being unable to find work, and more people getting tied up in the criminal justice system," he said. "We know from experience that these kind of policies disproportionately affect minority neighborhoods."
Although some law enforcement officials opposed Question 2 last year, others praise it. "Question 2 is a sound law," said Jack Cole of Bedford, a retired detective lieutenant with the New Jersey State Police and executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. "Proposed legislation to undermine the ballot initiative will just result in wasted law enforcement resources when police should be focusing on pursuing violent criminals."
