|
veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,538
|
[MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use
#13460265 - 11/09/10 06:52 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use November 9, 2010 - boston.com
A year after the state of Massachusetts passed a law to decriminalize the possession of an ounce or less of marijuana, the Cambridge Police Commissioner has proposed two ordinances that aim to ban public consumption of marijuana and to fine individuals who provide a false identity to a police officer when being issued a citation.
Violators of the proposed public consumption ordinance would be fined $300 for each offense, while violators of the false name or address ordinance would be subject to a fine of $200, in addition to the $100 state fine for possession.
Cambridge police say the ordinances are necessary to respond to what they say is a significant increase in public use of marijuana in the city. And they say it is challenging to control the problem armed only with the civil citations available since the state law changed.
A September 2010 report from the Cambridge Police Department found that the number of juveniles, under the age of 18, cited for possession of one ounce or less of the drug has gone up from five in 2009 to 13 by the end of August 2010. Additionally, the report states that “adult citations for 2010 are also on pace to surpass the number from last year,” with 21 adults cited in 2009 and 15 adults cited by the end of August 2010.
The report uses the number of citations issued for possessing an ounce or less of marijuana since the new law was enacted in January 2009, as evidence to suggest an increase in marijuana usage in Cambridge. Opponents of these ordinances say that adding more fines won’t stop the drug industry, nor will they change the popularity of using marijuana.
“[O]ur efforts to enact these ordinances in Cambridge are aimed at enforcing the fine associated with the law and dealing with quality of life issues that surround public consumption of marijuana,” Dan Rivello, a police spokesman, said in an e-mail.
Rivello said police officers in Cambridge are having difficulty enforcing citations for possession of an ounce or less of marijuana. Police say that state law offers no legal recourse against an individual who refuses to give his or her name, or who provides a fake name and address.
“This is highly problematic for our officers in enforcing the new law as obtaining a verifiable name and address is essential in ensuring that offenders comply with the law and enforcing the civil fine,” said Rivello.
But Michael Crawford, a Cambridge resident and President of MassCann: the Mass.Cannabis Reform Coalition, said the police need to have more scientific evidence and hard facts than those stated in the report to back up their claims that marijuana usage is becoming more of a problem in Cambridge.
“It seemed like the police were trying to make a political case,” said Crawford, who attended the first public hearing.
Crawford said that he believes that if the ordinances go into effect, there will be little change in the number of citations issued.
“The only effect I think it will have will be that people may not know of the change in the fine and won’t be able to pay it, resulting in a criminal offense,” said Crawford.
Crawford said that he thinks the Cambridge Police are doing a good job cracking down on violence in the city, but that he does not feel the ordinances will do anything to change the behavior of marijuana users.
“I think the cops do care about the community and the kids in Cambridge,” said Crawford. “I feel that we just have a difference of opinions.”
Like Crawford, Cambridge City Councilor Denise Simmons said that the City Council needed more evidence of an increase in marijuana consumption before they could vote on the ordinances.
Simmons, who hosted the first public hearing on Oct. 21, said she hopes to use the next Public Safety Committee’s hearing on marijuana as a way to educate the community on the current law and the fines associated with possession of the drug. The hearing, which has not yet been set for a date, will invite parents, youths, police officers and a local professor to discuss better ways the community can be educated about marijuana.
“I am hoping that this education awareness will provide better information so my colleagues and I can make a sound decision regarding the proposed ordinances,” said Simmons.
|
Konyap

Registered: 06/30/07
Posts: 33,945
Loc: Planet Piss
Last seen: 4 years, 6 months
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: veggie]
#13460374 - 11/09/10 07:24 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
if possesion is a crime then why make other crimes
logic is flawed
|
sleepy
zZzZzZzZz


Registered: 01/17/05
Posts: 3,888
Loc:
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: veggie]
#13460667 - 11/09/10 08:10 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
veggie said: Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use November 9, 2010 - boston.com
A September 2010 report from the Cambridge Police Department found that the number of juveniles, under the age of 18, cited for possession of one ounce or less of the drug has gone up from five in 2009 to 13 by the end of August 2010. Additionally, the report states that “adult citations for 2010 are also on pace to surpass the number from last year,” with 21 adults cited in 2009 and 15 adults cited by the end of August 2010.
i took statistics in high school, an increase from 5 to 13, wow, that's not even close to enough prove it's not random chance
|
mukhail
Creeper

Registered: 02/06/10
Posts: 1,361
Loc: Antarctica
Last seen: 7 years, 2 months
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: sleepy]
#13460916 - 11/09/10 08:57 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
I think this is reasonable.
Seeing as its not even legal yet.
|
cokane
Stranger



Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 945
Last seen: 2 years, 6 months
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: mukhail]
#13461033 - 11/09/10 09:28 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
banned public use???? is private use still cool? i live in MA. i think people are more open about smoking now because the penalty is a slap on the wrist. i think the cops might be sick of seeing people smoke it and blow it in their face. "like what are you gonna do? fine me PIG". pot use is something that should not be flaunted. I foresee pot remaining illegal for many years to come.
|
sleepy
zZzZzZzZz


Registered: 01/17/05
Posts: 3,888
Loc:
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: cokane]
#13461111 - 11/09/10 09:45 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
yeah, it will remain illegal probably if people blow smoke in cops faces and call them pigs!
|
BirdsIView
Mr. Helms

Registered: 07/19/07
Posts: 736
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: sleepy]
#13461615 - 11/09/10 11:37 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
They need to learn from their SF counterparts and look the other way. Let people smoke their weed and go worry about the real criminals.
|
Green_T


Registered: 10/02/08
Posts: 4,042
Loc: UK
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: cokane]
#13462105 - 11/10/10 02:25 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
cokane said: banned public use???? is private use still cool? i live in MA. i think people are more open about smoking now because the penalty is a slap on the wrist. i think the cops might be sick of seeing people smoke it and blow it in their face. "like what are you gonna do? fine me PIG". pot use is something that should not be flaunted. I foresee pot remaining illegal for many years to come.
^QFT. That's called "taking the piss" here in England. If you are going to smoke try to do it in private, but if you have to do it in public, at least do it discreetly.
Smoking in public is likely to make people angry with marijuana liberalization, which will harm legalization initiatives.
--------------------
"I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man" - Thomas Jefferson Legalize Meth | Drug War Victims
|
cokane
Stranger



Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 945
Last seen: 2 years, 6 months
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: Green_T]
#13463219 - 11/10/10 10:25 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
^QFT. That's called "taking the piss" here in England. If you are going to smoke try to do it in private, but if you have to do it in public, at least do it discreetly.
Smoking in public is likely to make people angry with marijuana liberalization, which will harm legalization initiatives.
First my name is cokane, but i have never used it. cokane is a play in my last name of kane. just my 2 cents: ever notice cocaine users hide and are very discrete in their drug use? i have seen this countless times at parties. they all disappear, get high, and come back to party too drink and smoke weed. they are hiding their drug use cause they know if they get busted its serious business. i feel the same way about pot use. under 1 ounce is decriminalized here (MA), but that doesnt mean i want to broadcast i have some in my pocket.
|
blujay
pass it b*ch!


Registered: 04/01/09
Posts: 5,120
Last seen: 8 years, 9 months
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: Konyap]
#13463320 - 11/10/10 10:49 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
aiyobro said: if possesion is a crime then why make other crimes
logic is flawed
CONTROL THE PROBLEM
--------------------
  wat man rly
|
blujay
pass it b*ch!


Registered: 04/01/09
Posts: 5,120
Last seen: 8 years, 9 months
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: Green_T]
#13463337 - 11/10/10 10:52 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Green_T said:
Quote:
cokane said: banned public use???? is private use still cool? i live in MA. i think people are more open about smoking now because the penalty is a slap on the wrist. i think the cops might be sick of seeing people smoke it and blow it in their face. "like what are you gonna do? fine me PIG". pot use is something that should not be flaunted. I foresee pot remaining illegal for many years to come.
^QFT. That's called "taking the piss" here in England. If you are going to smoke try to do it in private, but if you have to do it in public, at least do it discreetly.
Smoking in public is likely to make people angry with marijuana liberalization, which will harm legalization initiatives.
I disagree. I think smoking it in public and not causing any problems proves people can be baked and perfectly reasonable. It's the only way we're going to desensitize people to it and prove in their minds that weed use is safe, is if they see all these people who aren't just the stereotypes walking around having polite conversation smoking pot.
--------------------
  wat man rly
|
Green_T


Registered: 10/02/08
Posts: 4,042
Loc: UK
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: blujay]
#13463423 - 11/10/10 11:10 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
^ I see your point: showing people that being stoned in public is not even comparable to drunk in public would be a good thing.
However, it is not the use that bothers people, but its the smoke. Its kind of like smoking at a bus stop when its raining: its allowed, but it really pisses people off.
It is a delicate trade off: on one hand, we need to show people that cannabis is benign, and on the other respect non-users.
--------------------
"I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man" - Thomas Jefferson Legalize Meth | Drug War Victims
|
blujay
pass it b*ch!


Registered: 04/01/09
Posts: 5,120
Last seen: 8 years, 9 months
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: Green_T]
#13463468 - 11/10/10 11:18 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Green_T said: ^ I see your point: showing people that being stoned in public is not even comparable to drunk in public would be a good thing.
However, it is not the use that bothers people, but its the smoke. Its kind of like smoking at a bus stop when its raining: its allowed, but it really pisses people off.
It is a delicate trade off: on one hand, we need to show people that cannabis is benign, and on the other respect non-users.
I'm not suggesting blowing smoke in someone's face. That's assholish regardless of what's being smoked. But if you can't be within thirty feet of someone smoking you seriously need to shove a white picket fence post up your ass and go back to church where you belong.
I put up with the rank smell of old people who never fucking wash their folds, the sight of people who are so morbidly obese I am impressed they still walk, teaching their children how to follow in their doomed footsteps, the stench of highschoolers who use what seems like five different cans of Axe each morning and the girls who wear so much perfume you'll know they're coming five miles away. I have to put up with every Christian acting like the only reason I don't go to church is that I've never hear of Jesus and literally following me as I briskly try to walk away to berate me for me so-called sins, people blaring music without intelligible lyrics of any rythm or melody.
There's no respect there at all. I should be able to be seen smoking a join on the other side of the street without five soccer-moms calling the police and white-kniting me and trying to make a fucking citizen's arrest.
When you're in public you're subject to other people's bullshit. You don't like it, get the fuck back into a private room. I don't verbally berate people who do all the things I just mentioned, they shouldn't come after me just because I tried to wear a Bob Marley shirt at a theme park.
--------------------
  wat man rly
|
Green_T


Registered: 10/02/08
Posts: 4,042
Loc: UK
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: blujay]
#13463495 - 11/10/10 11:22 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
There's no respect there at all. I should be able to be seen smoking a join on the other side of the street without five soccer-moms calling the police and white-kniting me and trying to make a fucking citizen's arrest.
This is true. But some people undoubtedly take the piss, and doing it with cops will just breed resentment.
--------------------
"I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man" - Thomas Jefferson Legalize Meth | Drug War Victims
|
AsAboveSoBelow
The matrix has you


Registered: 02/06/08
Posts: 2,515
Last seen: 12 years, 7 months
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: Green_T]
#13463672 - 11/10/10 11:59 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
how could people complain about cannabis smoke? Smells soooo gooooood
Quote:
“Our efforts to enact these ordinances in Cambridge are aimed at enforcing the fine associated with the law and dealing with quality of life issues that surround public consumption of marijuana,” Dan Rivello, a police spokesman, said in an e-mail.
Now, where's my tobacco smoking ordinance?
--------------------
You're gonna get hurt real bad They that sow the wind, shall reap the whirlwind
|
NetDiver
Wandering Mindfuck


Registered: 08/24/09
Posts: 6,024
Loc: Everywhere and Nowhere
Last seen: 1 year, 9 months
|
Re: [MA] Cambridge Cops Want To Ban Public Marijuana Use [Re: veggie]
#13464809 - 11/10/10 05:41 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
veggie said: Police say that state law offers no legal recourse against an individual who refuses to give his or her name, or who provides a fake name and address.
|
|