Rep. Cleon Turner from Cape Cod has filed some state bills on marijuana that he feels will “tighten” the referendum law passed by voters in November. From the State House News Service:
A Cape Cod lawmaker has filed a pair of bills aimed at tightening up a new law voters passed in November that reduced the penalty for possessing an ounce or less of marijuana from an arrestable offense to a $100 civil fine. Rep. Cleon Turner (D-Dennis) said one bill will allow for the civil fine to be enforced by local police. Under his bill, individuals who fail to pay three civil penalties they have racked up in a 12-month span would be charged with a misdemeanor and face an additional $1,000 fine or six months in jail. Turner, an attorney and former policeman, said his other bill would codify advisory opinions from state public safety and school officials stating that schools, employers and building personnel may ban marijuana from school grounds, places of work, and public buildings. Public safety and school officials have said they are concerned that they would no longer be able to keep marijuana bans on school and municipal grounds.
With all of the blog activity surrounding my recent proposal I thought some of my new readers might be interested in commenting on the Representative’s proposals.
Bill Manzi.com 
Your Honor,
I understood you were trying to keep our public places and schools safe from those who think the referendum made marijuana legal.
Your proposal, I think, was well thought out and applied punishment (deterrence) quickly. Rep turner’s amendment would give the user two smoking opportunities before they have to really worry.
I find it curious that regular political issues on this blog generally draw 8 replys max, and a drug issues draws almost 40 passionate responses. Are we a pot head nation?
Jules
Jules
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My opinions alone: I think the first bill should be placed in a desk until such time an actual problem is proven to exist, as it appears to be an attempt to recriminalize.
The second bill puzzles me. In wake of what Methuen is in process of doing, is this a legitimate concern?
-FM
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Fred,
The answer to your question is yup”, it is a concern.
Jules.
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The Mayor and city council seem to be doing fine on their own, without paranoia. I haven’t yet seen an impediment to pass reasonable location restrictions.
-FM
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Quincy City Council Hearing, same night as the Methuen hearing.
I don’t want to see any of these new laws.
But the more interesting thing to me is compare the two hearings and judge for yourself which city council handled things professionally (Methuen) and which one didn’t (Quincy). Yes, I told you the answer so there’s no confusion, but check this video from Quincy.
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“Mayor Manzi’s a good dude”.
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