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Bridgeburner
Not spiritual at all.




Registered: 09/16/06
Posts: 20,010
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West Bridgewater looks to uproot weed use
#9674656 - 01/25/09 04:58 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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link
Pot smokers caught using weed in public here could get arrested and pay hefty fines, if town meeting approves a measure proposed by police and endorsed last week by selectmen.
“Basically it would make it an arrestable offense under the town’s bylaws, just like drinking in public,” said Detective Sgt. Victor Flaherty.
“If you get caught smoking marijuana in public, you can get arrested,” he said, if the annual town meeting in the spring approves the measure. Fines would also be part of the local bylaw.
West Bridgewater’s local plan would toughen the state law that went into effect after 65 percent of voters in November approved Question 2, which decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Nationwide, about 21 states have decriminalized marijuana possession for personal use, medical use or both — and the action was taken most often by ballot initiative, as in Massachusetts.
Under the new state law, as long as the person is in possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, police can only seize the drug and issue a $100 noncriminal citation for possession, even for repeat offenses. The person can no longer be arrested.
If the person refuses to identify himself or furnishes a false name, police can do nothing about it, said Flaherty.
West Bridgewater police have issued one noncriminal citation for marijuana possession since decriminalization took effect on Jan. 2, Flaherty said.
Under the proposal local bylaw, in addition to the $100 noncriminal fine for possession, which goes into a community’s general fund and can be appealed in district court, West Bridgewater would fine public pot smokers an additional $100 for the first offense, $200 for a second offense, and $300 for subsequent offenses.
The money would go into police department drug and alcohol education programs, said selectmen Chairman Jerry Lawrence, who recommend sending letters to Bridgewater and East Bridgewater urging them to adopt similar bylaws.
Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office, which must approve town bylaw changes, drafted sample language for communities considering adopting public marijuana smoking bylaws, said Emily J. LaGrassa, a spokeswoman for Coakley’s office.
West Bridgewater’s proposal is based on the sample language.
East Bridgewater Police Chief John Cowan said that town is considering a public marijuana smoking bylaw.
“You can’t drink in public. It doesn’t make sense why you could smoke marijuana in public,” Cowan said. “What’s the purpose of smoking it? Like alcohol, to get high,” he said. “People don’t always behave under the influence of something. That’s usually when we get called.”
Other local police officials said public marijuana smoking bylaws would strengthen public safety, but for now their focus is on complying with decriminalization.
“We’re considering all the options, but our first priority is implementing the law as it has been enacted,” said Bridgewater Police Lt. Christopher Delmonte.
He said Bridgewater is establishing policies and procedures with town and Bridgewater State College campus police, Brockton District Court and the town clerk’s office, which collects the noncriminal possession fines. Bridgewater police are also drafting a form for noncriminal citations.
Delmonte said graduated fines would discourage repeat public marijuana smokers.
Under the statewide law, violators younger than 18 have to complete a drug awareness program and community service. The fine jumps to as high as $1,000 for those who fail to complete the program.
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JusListen
Stranger



Registered: 12/18/07
Posts: 403
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Last seen: 14 years, 4 months
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Re: West Bridgewater looks to uproot weed use [Re: Bridgeburner]
#9674767 - 01/25/09 06:45 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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fuck here comes the loop-holes.
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TreeMoss
I live in a Fox Hole


Registered: 12/05/08
Posts: 1,615
Last seen: 15 years, 30 days
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Re: West Bridgewater looks to uproot weed use [Re: JusListen]
#9674866 - 01/25/09 07:50 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ya, they just can't accept the new law with saving face.......they just loved to scare kids that got caught with the ganja.
Sure public intoxication is a serious charge, not a felony but a time serving charge. Just don't get caught, that is why as I grow older I prefer to be in my own home and not driving around (which used to be fun but not worth the paranoia anymore). I'd smoke in a park still, a large wooded one with nobody around.......but I'd want to stay for awhile.
-------------------- Drug chemicals are going to be more abundant and survive longer than any anti-drug agendas. Some of us are just ahead of the game, we already know what the future will understand. Drugs weren't bad but how some people used them were and some people just were bad because they had to be.
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JusListen
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Registered: 12/18/07
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Re: West Bridgewater looks to uproot weed use [Re: TreeMoss]
#9674898 - 01/25/09 08:01 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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yeah true, TreeMoss..
but what if this fucks MA residents, who are caught with say 1/4 OZ, but with some blunt wraps, or some rolling papers?
I hope it wouldnt mean a sort of "intent to smoke" charge or some shit they can just pull out thier asses!
LOL
I keep it on the low no matta where I go, so wherever in the country I go, I drive str8 and dont act all-out stoned.
Edited by JusListen (01/25/09 08:01 AM)
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TreeMoss
I live in a Fox Hole


Registered: 12/05/08
Posts: 1,615
Last seen: 15 years, 30 days
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Re: West Bridgewater looks to uproot weed use [Re: JusListen]
#9674907 - 01/25/09 08:06 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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Paraphernalia.........in my state thanks to wicked mothers on witch hunts (once again read up on shadow projection) paraphernalia is more severe than that actual drug.......why, because mothers bitch to get what they want and REALLY SHOULD BE LESSER CITIZENS!
You will go to jail over rolling papers associated with drug use, if you have the drug on you or even a seed.........anything to associate it's purpose.......as the case would be with resin in it or some ganja in it.
Stupid, oh hell yes......let's look all civilized about decrime laws then way crazy about pipes........God damn, and the wild wicked moms are popping valiums and kolonpins and thinking they are something different.
-------------------- Drug chemicals are going to be more abundant and survive longer than any anti-drug agendas. Some of us are just ahead of the game, we already know what the future will understand. Drugs weren't bad but how some people used them were and some people just were bad because they had to be.
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neopet nub
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Registered: 11/29/08
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Re: West Bridgewater looks to uproot weed use [Re: TreeMoss]
#9675029 - 01/25/09 09:04 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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paraphernalia is devastating to society.
-------------------- Ego death from weed!
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TreeMoss
I live in a Fox Hole


Registered: 12/05/08
Posts: 1,615
Last seen: 15 years, 30 days
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Re: West Bridgewater looks to uproot weed use [Re: neopet nub]
#9675662 - 01/25/09 11:16 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
neopet nub said: paraphernalia is devastating to society.
It was because of head shops that they took that approach. They thought it was tolerating drugs by having legal pipes and bongs being sold.
It is true, paraphernalia is devastating.......nothing like an empty pipe.
-------------------- Drug chemicals are going to be more abundant and survive longer than any anti-drug agendas. Some of us are just ahead of the game, we already know what the future will understand. Drugs weren't bad but how some people used them were and some people just were bad because they had to be.
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