Decriminalize Marijuana In Massachusetts.
WHAT: Marijuana Decriminalization Hearing Pending Before Joint Committee on the Judicary
NOTE NEW ROOM:
WHERE: State House Gardner Auditorium Boston, MA
WHEN: Thursday, October 23, 2003, 11:00 A.M.
The Massachusetts legislature's Joint Committee on the Judiciary will hear testimony beginning at 11:00 AM on Thursday, October 23, in Room A-1 on Senate Bill 1119, legislation that would make possession of marijuana a civil violation.
S. 1119:
- eliminates the authority of the police to take custody of a person over
18 for possessing marijuana;
- punishes possession of marijuana by a civil fine of not less than $100
nor more than $500 for the first violation and of not less than $200 nor
more than $1,000 for a second or subsequent violation; and,
- splits the civil fines collected between the state and the municipality
in which the violation occurred.
Currently, first time marijuana offenders face a maximum six month jail sentence.
This legislation offers significant legal protections to responsible marijuana smokers in Massachusetts. However, legislators will only support this measure if they hear from you.
Please take a moment today to write your state representative and senator and tell him or her to support S. 1119. Pre-written letters are available online from NORML at:
http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/bills/?bill=1365916
