Marijuana decriminalization law goes into effect

Congratulations Massachusetts. Let's hope that marijuana users don't abuse their hard fought privileges. Other states are watching.

And contrary to previous reports, the world has not ended, dogs and cats are not sleeping together, babies are not doing crack and life as we know it has not ended.

It's about time!

"The state..." Please give us the names of who is trying to do this end-run.

Truly incredible that this passed. What has this world come to?

Watch out! The Commonwealth is going to be overrun with hippies and reefer madness, mark my words! And we will have been robbed of the opportunity to ruin their lives with a felony charge-what have we come to, people?

Congratulations to those people who don’t care about the youth of our society. We as a society are going through one the worst substance abuse problems ever witnessed in our country’s history. Read the daily newspaper or watch the news on television. Overdoses are common place; break and entering into homes, armed robberies and other violent crimes are finding a place in the average person’s daily life. How do we deal with these problems….we tell people, especially young, impressionable people, it is ok to use drugs. Marijuana is a gateway drug, no ifs ands or butts. Speak to recovering addicts and people who work in the drug abuse business, marijuana is a gateway drug. The penalty for being caught with marijuana will be a civil ticket that the chiefs of police in Massachusetts have admitted will be unenforceable. That means there will be no penalty if caught smoking marijuana or walking around with one ounce or less. You’ll be safer smoking marijuana than you would be a regular tobacco cigarette.
I don’t think the people who voted for this law really thought out the possible ramifications. Congratulations and good luck…sometimes you get what you wished for…and then wished you didn’t.

This is a money making scam the Law Enforcement slime
has been using for years,while they drink and beat their wives
and it is legal. What a great examples they are for all the
young people.Stay tuned the slime won't give up without a
fight.There is money to be made.

Great, so now I'll get high if some nit wit chooses to smoke a joint next to me "in public" ? I won't get drunk if you're drinking a beer next to me, but I will get high if your smoking a joint next to me. Great, thanks MA voters....now us non pot smokers are subject to second hand highs. What about my right to breath clean drug free air? Pollute your own homes with the smoke

i'm not a smoker, but i am glad that massachusetts law is finally starting to reflect the common sense of it's citizens. we have a ways to go, but it's good to see that we're beginning to move beyond the old puritanical laws of the past.

Party time!

I still can not believe that my fellow citizens have decriminalized pot. Granted, the amount allowed is 'small', but it's irrelevant. My biggest concern is the pot high driver crossing the yellow line. How would you feel if someone who took the life of a loved one because they were high and driving? Many have compared drug use to alcohol. A strong case can be made for this obviously. But that doesn't mean we add yet another item to the list of behavior altering substances. Typical of our society to say this is not a big deal. No standards.

“The state also asked communities to consider passing local ordinances criminalizing the use of marijuana in public, which today is only a civil offense if the smoker possesses an ounce or less."
-Note to Government: You work for us, remember? With the State's overwhelming vote towards legalizing pot; the people we elect and we pay should stop trying to regulate our lives. Attempting an end run on our referendum by criminalizing “the smoking” of pot is clearly not what the people want, just look at the vote. We pay you to represent us and protect us, not to rule over us. If you want to do the job we pay you for, stop the white collar thieves from robbing your constituency’s future. Happy New Year!!! See you at 4:20 ;^) >

BOSTON IS THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD!

Leave us alone! The will of the people spoke. Now you are trying to find your own loopholes by trying to kill the law.You want Police to still put people in jail if you smoke it in public? The law states no arrests at all regardless if you were smoking it at the time of being caught. Stop trying to be such a POLICE NATION. Your reefer madness is old and stale. Get a life. We have more important problems in America then people smoking a harmless joint. I wish the people I voted in would just listen to the will of the people...and back off!
I am 47 yrs old and a professional. I have helped many in my life that are less forunate then me. But you would think nothing of destroying my life and my families for smoking reefer. I will defy the law by smoking it in public and make sure my Lawyers sue the Commonwealth and the arresting officer if they arrest me.

This is the most stupidest things I have ever heard and I have heard it all living in this fine state. This is where the legislators and the voter give themselves just enough rope to hang themselves. Just like DUI, there is a limit. You can drink but stay under the limit because if you are caught, they will make your life a livign nightmare for yrs to come. In this case, it is legal to own pot, an oz or less but if you are caught, you pay a fine. This should be the "joke" of the century

Great success!

That's funny.. My garbage was picked up as usual this morning and I saw children heading off to school. Here I thought society was going to grind to a halt, schools and churches would close from lack of attendance, and we'd all be out selling our bodies to get high.

As far as the state asking communities to pass local ordinances.. Gee, guys, why don't you wait and see if there's a problem first??? I don't want people hanging out street corners getting stoned either but I also don't want the will of the people usurped by the myopic imagination of our good old government.

Ever read this article...ON WEED???

What a joyous day for pothead losers statewide!!

whooo hooooo!!!!!!

GOD BLESS (Massachusetts &) AMERICA. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Let's see more LIBERTY & JUSTICE for ALL.

It's about time marijuana got decriminalized. No one gets poisened from Pot like alcohol. Pot has few of the health effects that alcohol provides but alcohol is legal. While I do not smoke it, I believe if used properly ( used only when not operationg any machinery or when one has to be safety aware) it has it's place.

The best benefit is we are no longer paying the law enforcement costs associated with pot. While I feel this is a goodf thing I do not feel that way about other drugs.

It's about time science and rationalism is finding its way into American law (thanks to voters anyway). Animal studies repeatedly show that alcohol and tobacco are two of the most addicitive and dangerous drugs, yet others like pot, which studies support to be safe and non-addictive, get law enforcement attention and has resulted in an overflow of prisoners in this country. Our police resources can hopefully be used for more pressing matters as we head further into the 21st century.

The state also asked communities to consider passing local ordinances criminalizing the use of marijuana in public, which today is only a civil offense if the smoker possesses an ounce or less.

What part of the law does the state not understand? The voters have spoken.
Voters favored the Question 2 proposition 65 percent to 35 percent.
35% must be cops and lawers.

Shows there are many more people who smoke Marijuana than I care to know about. In fact I heard some people state that is the only reason they went out and voted. What is next?

Globe Staff, let's watch this space. I'm betting that what Peter Stoker of the National Drug Prevention Alliance says becomes reality in Mass. He said, "It is no coincidence that the increasing use of all drugs - and in particular the stronger strains of cannabis, coincides with the increase of violence, gangs, guns and knives on our streets - and thousands of young people unable to reach their potential through education since they are stoned for much of the time, and at risk of developing (as some are already doing) a chronic apathy and 'amotivational syndrome,' and in some cases are subjected to mental health damage which may or may not be irreversible."

cool beans

Is it a crime to sell or grow it?

good!

What pothead at Boston.com wrote this?

Of course it is still a crime to possess less than an ounce. You just won't get arrested. If you had any brain cells remaining, you'd know that marijuana is still an illegal, addictive drug, which happens to be harmful.

So don't tell your bong-buddies that it will no longer be considered a crime.

Your lead is incorrect. Possession remains a crime. (See, Mass General Laws Chapter 94C.) However the offense is only punishable by a fine. The change to the law means offenders will not face incarceration, probation or have a criminal history that would be subject to a background check.

Thank god. People need to realize that its only a flower thats been around for longer than us. If you want to learn more about marijuana watch Humbolt County its a great movie

I love how the state thinks the voters don't know what is best for them, so they push the locals to pass criminalization laws. How cute. Just like how we voted to roll back the income tax to 5% and the legislature refuses to do it.

"The state also asked communities to consider passing local ordinances criminalizing the use of marijuana in public, which today is only a civil offense if the smoker possesses an ounce or less." -- This is a useless measure, and it completely contradicts the will of the voters of the Commonwealth. If smoking marijuana in public becomes a criminal offense due to cities and town by-laws, those same by-laws should also make smoking a cigarette in those same public places a criminal offense. Are you going to arrest the mayor for smoking a cigar outside of city hall? As far as the argument that is sure to follow "What about the use of marijuana on school grounds?" Well, for those of you who didn't know: smoking anything on school property in Massachusetts is a crime, be it a cigarette or a blunt, and it should remain that way. The voters of Massachusetts have spoken, loudly, with a 65% majority. Elected officials should listen to their constituents, because the same 65% will vote again. And ask yourself... How much of your tax dollars are being spent by the Commonwealth, as they are trying once again to put cannabis smokers in jail instead of actually trying to prosecute real criminals?

awesome!

Now that it's been decriminalized, I could see efforts being made in the future to legalize buddha.

You put your weed in there!

about time

You should be allowed to have a joint anywhere you can have a cigarette or a drink of alchohol. Do not criminalize. You should legalize.

Oh Quinzee1, how sheltered, uneducated and naive you sound :) Violence, drug use and other horrific aspects of human nature have been around forever and will exist for the rest of time. Life isn't getting worse or ending because we have decriminalized marijuana. Stop being such a square.

Bob, "This is a money making scam the Law Enforcement slime
has been using for years, while they drink and beat their wives
and it is legal." - WIFE BEATING ISN'T LEGAL!!!!!

Randonperson, do some research. There really is no such thing as a second hand high. And I GUARANTEE you won't see people just smoking pot in public everywhere.

Dinosaur, at least your username is appropriate. I bet you are OLD. "My biggest concern is the pot high driver crossing the yellow line. " Pedestrians aren't going to be killed by users driving under the influence just because marijuana is decriminalized.

You people live under rocks. Hah. Maybe you need to relax and smoke a joint.

read before commenting you idiots, it is still ILLEGAL to use in public, just as drinking a beer is. It is not a gateway drug, as the Government has tricked you into thinking. No thing bad will come out of this, the drug DEALERS will still be busted, as the casual user will be spared YOUR tax dollars to prosecute and to be put in jail....Enough of filling jails and courtrooms, for the everyday user, and so you know your doctor smokes, you lawyer smokes as does your local cop and fireman....true true true

I am not surprised in the least that the older generation is crying foul over this. Massachusetts is the most old-fashioned state in the country, where there is a law for everything, and it's about time we move forward and get with the times. There are far worse things out there for the authorities to be investigating. Cocaine and herion use is the biggest problem, and contrary to what the elders believe, marijuana use does not lead to that as I have enjoyed it for 16 years without ever moving onto anything harder, nor will I ever.

Please get over it.. Alcohol is so much worst. It ruins families much more than a joint once in a while. You don't see smokers being violent and killing people driving. BUT you do see people who drive alcohol do all the above. Get with the program...

Legalize it, don't criticize it!

Hey everybody...
Have a Coke, a toke, and a smile. People have been smoking pot for as long as there HAVE been people and fire. Relax, the world isn't going to spin off of
it's axis.

Ken Atri said: "This is the most stupidest things I have ever heard and I have heard it all living in this fine state." Your grammar shows that you are a very intelligent, intellectual individual.

To Quinzee1, randomperson, and Dinosaur....

I believe that time will tell you that you are looking at this the wrong way altogether. Alcohol is a much more dangerous drug in many, many different ways. There is no such thing as a "gateway" drug. Responsible users smoke because they enjoy doing so, not because they HAVE to get a fix...and nobody is saying that it is OK to operate a motor vehicle after smoking...it is NOT, even though the effects are far less dangerous than mixing alcohol and driving...and it's really laughable to think that you will get "contact high" if you happen to pass by someone smoking a joint...but hopefully most people will be more responsible anyway and keep it in thier private residence...

There is nothing at all wrong with smoking marijuana - it will become fully legal, and rightfully so, sometime in the not too distant future.

Paid for by George Soros and his billions. What a stupid state. Sue tobacco companies for causing cancer, but allow pot to be approved. What a stupid state.

WE WANT DISPENSARIES!

Now that it's all said and done...who's got the nuggies?

Happy Decriminalization Day!

To those who still oppose this new measure and think it is the "most stupidest thing" or those like Quinzee1 who simply don't get it at all: Your time is over. Please step aside and allow the adults to clean up the mess you've left behind.

What's the matter, you afraid of a little "true democracy" for once. Oh how we espouse the beauty of democracy until the people pass something that we disagree with. All the hypocrites and crybaby's here had their chance to vote against this in November and you lost big time. Two-to-one in every city and town across the Commonwealth. The will of the people has been spoken.
If you don't like the law you can leave Massachusetts.
Love it or Leave it.

Obviously the world isn't going to come to a grinding halt on day one. Let's see the statistics a year from now and determine if the law has increased the use of illegal substances, traffic accidents, and substance related deaths. I think the use of substances such as marijuana are indictative of a weak, selfish, mind, as evidenced by many of the posts here.

I'm willing to hazard a guess that this new adjustment to the law won't stay in effect for too long. MA voters are very liberal, and in this case shot themselves in the foot with their own misguided outlook on the term "liberty." I think parents are going to see a rise in substance use across the board, drugs, alcohol, smoking, by children. Their children. And once they see their kids in that situation, maybe they'll see that this wasn't such a great idea. Then again, it's Massachusetts, so personally responsibility and common sense aren't generally found in great numbers.

Decriminalizing this is most definitely a step in the right direction. This poor plant has been demonized throughout the history of our country, and unfortunately so have the plant's advocates and enthusiasts. Some points to consider:
"It will say it's okay to do pot to our kids" - Rubbish. The laws pertaining to any kind of substance have never been what tells kids right from wrong. Raise your own kids and YOU teach them.
"It's a gateway drug" - Scare tactics based on non-scientific studies. There are plenty of people out there that simply smoke pot and nothing else. Leave this kind of stuff to FOX News please.
"Substance abuse, breaking & entering, violent crimes, etc..." - THis is pot we are taking about. Not booze, coke, meth, MDMA, Acid, Heroin or pharmies. I'm pretty sure violent crime and pot go together like candy-canes and spaceships.
The commentor above has some kind of narrow, generalized view of all drugs being the same and equally evil. People have habits and addictions obviously, and I know as well as anyone that anything abused can be detrimental to loved-ones, acquaintances and fellow motorists. But to have a polarized view of what is right and what is wrong is not what this law is about. What is wrong to one person may not be wrong to the other (see: FREEDOM). Why should the government tell us what we can and can not do in our own homes that has no victim other than ourselves. Opponents of this law need to stop this ridiculous, blind crusade on their fellow humans for persuing what makes them happy and feel good.

Instead of decriminalizing MARIJUANA, we should be OUTLAWING ALCOHOL the biggest GATEWAY DRUG! Look what it has done to our youth and alcoholic adults. Most automobile accidents are a result of drunk driving. Our society has become a nation of couch potatoes watching television and drinking BUDS. Now they will be smoking them! We can't function without COFFEE in the morning. And how much has its side effect, INSOMNIA, cost this nation in low production and missed work? Why can't we return to the more WHOLESOME time of when we 1st settled in this great land, when there was NO ALCOHOL, NO CAFFEINE, NO DRUGS? And especially in this state which was once the seat of the great PURITAN WAY OF LIFE?

WAKE UP AMERICA BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

I agree with the people complaining about the Globe quoting "the state", if it is an anonymous source or some government issued guideline by a particular agency then say so. But if it is a public official in the administration that is on the record, then name the person. It is bad journalism and just plain creepy to be quoting "the state" as if it is some omnipotent being with one voice.

It is about time.

It would have been nice if this were the case 20 years ago when I was caught with weed in college. My life was turned upside down. I was kicked out of the dorms and away from all my friends. My family was put into a crisis.

What was worse is that is wasn't even mine. It was my buddy's. He was completely kick out of college. Thank god he admitted it was his.

Now let's get rid of many of our foolish alcohol laws.

If you see smoke coming out of my bathroon window DON'T call the fire department. Call Domino's

People get over yourselves.
Those "fearing" that this will bring down the state and life as we know it are also the ones claiming that teaching sex ED will only encourage kids to have sex. The new law is if you have less then one ounce in your possession. Growing and dealing are still official crimes so relax, Bean town won't be the site of the next dazed and confused

And the propagandist harpies have arrived with their shrill voices parroting failed policies and inaccuracies like an army of Nancy Reagans.

If you 'anti-drug' zealots ever decided to open your minds, you'd realize that 65% of the state inevitably includes highly educated professionals, educators, law enforcement officers, legal experts, politicians and more. This is not a poorly considered, rash act, but an extremely well-considered, well researched reality.

Hey quinzee1 and randonperson-
Please do the world a favor and quit spreading complete lies. There is absolutely NO way you're going to get high from being next to someone smoking weed. It wouldn't even show up on a drug test. In fact, weed smoke is far less thick and imposing than cigarette smoke. But you probably wouldn't know that because it seems you are probably too afraid of the outside world to leave your own home.
And the argument that marijuana is a gateway drug is a thing of the past. The only evidence people have of that is that some high percentage of people who do hard drugs have smoked weed before, but if you have spent any time in middle school or above you would know that correlation is NOT causation. 100% of those drug users have also breathed air, drank water, and eaten fruit. Does that mean all of those are gateway drugs? NO! Smoking weed is certainly not GOOD for you (except in a few specific circumstances), but it does not in any way shape or form harm you or someone around you enough to warrant such legislation against it. The people and the gov't that represents us needs to get their priorities straight.

A good day for sane governance and civil society -- Massachusetts leads the way yet again. Still, I'm stunned to read some of the above comments. The rhetoric of these drug warriors reminds me of nothing so much as the delusional rantings of the chickenhawks prosecuting the War on Terror (and their Cold War forebears). Pot is a "gateway drug" about as much as Vietnam was a "domino state." This is a substance clinically shown to have no long-term ill-health effects (mental or physical), has lead to zero deaths from overdose or abuse (try saying that about alcohol), and is not physically addictive. Assess its attributes next to booze and any offering from big Pharma, and it becomes obvious what a irrational decision marijuana prohibition has been.

Our court system and jails are overrun because of marijuana offenses. This will save taxpayers a lot of money. Now law enforcement can focus on real crime and the state can spend money on things like education, social programs, etc. I no longer smoke the herb, but kudos to the voters!

PS- You won't get a "second-hand" high unless you are in a twelve by twelve room with someone smoking a joints worth of weed. And for those worried about people driving while stoned, people aren't going to do it more b/c of this. You still get a DUI if you're caught driving impaired.

I have no problems with pot being banned from the public, but it is asinine to keep spending millions of dollars on petty possession charges when alcohol causes far more harm to our society. People who are screaming into the sky need to calm down and look at the facts. There have been no recorded cases of death by marijuana consumption in recorded history. Alcohol kills hundreds of thousands of people every year, not to mention the pain and suffering of families. This will also allow more flexibility with our budget instead of wasting our money on overcrowded prisons, and a meaningless enforcement policy.

During the thirteen years of Prohibition we gave organized crime the demand opportunity needed to undergo spectacular growth, and we corrupted law enforcement, the courts, and many in our government in the process. This crime structure still exists decades later, as Prohibition still continues.

From 1920 - 1933, people consumed more alcohol than before Prohibition was encacted, and the alcohol they purchased from this market became much more potent, concentrated and often dangerous. Prohibition was also a milestone in institutionalizing a disrespect for the law among the population.

Today, the decriminalization (not legalization) of marijuana hardly begins to address the larger issues this "War on Drugs" is having on our society. We have rampant crime, much of it well organized through gangs and even organizations based outside of the United States. This prohibition is driving the innovation in the drug space that creates ever stronger and more novel chemicals that at easier to produce, smuggle and distribute, and are often more addicting. The attraction to children of these forbidden activities continues to increase, and our society has incarcerated millions of users who have done nothing to harm others.

It is time that this entire War on Drugs is rethought. The relatively few children who avoid offerings of illegal drugs entirely will still see the lives of many of their peers ruined and have to live in a society where basic freedoms continue to be stripped away. They are paying a price. The growing costs of para-militarized police forces and the largest prison system and incarceration rate in the world are also costs they will bear both directly and indirectly.

From a moral perspective the society that recognizes that individuals own their own life is the society that is free. My neighbor has no moral right to come into my house to prevent me from consuming wine. Nor does the neighbor up the street have this right. Yet, in our society we have allowed these neighbors to get together and use the government to control what I can do with my life. How can they create a right for government over my life THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THEMSELVES? That is the high crime here.

Yeah and jaywalking's a crime too. fer god sakes smoke a bowl or something.

Marijuana is not addictive. It is not harmful. Possession of it should not be a criminal offense. The people of Mass were right in passing this law. All the simple minded folk on here who think otherwise need to wake up. Alcohol is way more addictive and harmful than marijuana. Caffeine is way more addictive. Prescription pain killers and anti-depresents are way more addictive and harmful. This society has been wrong on this issue for a long time. It's nice to see that the will and common sense of the people has won here. Our government has wasted billions of dollars fighting this fake crime and inprisoning innocent, non-violnet people. We should all be ahsamed it took us this long. Hopefully the rest of the country will research this issue and come around as well.

- pot is addictive
- pot is dangerous
- pot is a gateway drug - even if for only 10% of users
i grew up in a mega substance abuse generation and neighborhood and saw and participated in it ALL first hand. what a WASTE of life i witnessed. if you deluded potheads would dare to dry out a bit you'd see how ridiculous you all are. so what if booze and butts and skag and crack are 'more' dangerous - pot is STILL dangerous. its apparent harmlessness is it's worst feature. what do we want to teach our kids? you think decriminalizing pot is a civics lesson? YOU MORONS! put your passion into something that matters. i pray that a future generation will look back and say 'what were they thinking?'

For all those uneducated uninformed who ask "What is the world coming to" the answer is reason, and forward thinking. But dont worry, if you read this article and think the world is coming to an end, Remember heaven is only a step off a bridge away.....

thank you, situation, there really are some naive people out there.

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen...

FOR ALL OF YOU WHO KEEP COMPARING MARIJUANA TO COCAINE OR ALCOHOL, YOU NEED TO GET A REALITY CHECK. YOU DON'T FALL AND TRIP OVER YOURSELF ON MARIJUANA UNLIKE ALCOHOL, YOU DON'T GET ALL OVERSTIMULATED LIKE COCAINE. YOU BECOME PASSIVE AND RELAXED. YOU DON'T BEAT YOUR CHILDREN ON MARIJUANA. YOU DON'T KILL PEOPLE ON MARIJUANA. I AM 100% FOR THIS BEING PASSED. I WISH IT WAS PASSED IN MY STATE(MISSOURI.) YOU IGNORANT PEOPLE ARE STUPID BELIEVING WHATEVER THE GOVERNMENT SAYS. IF YOU PICKED UP A TEXTBOOK YOU MIGHT SEE THAT THIS HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE. I DONT SEE ANY WITCHES AROUND THOUGH. DON'T HATE IT TILL YOU TRY IT AND THEN YOU CAN HAVE WHATEVER OPINION YOU WANT ON IT.

Welcome to leftwingville... Where smoking weed is legal, and cooking with trans fat is illegal.

Pass the bone, hold the fries.

I don't think they should have banned trans fat.

Drug dealers are still making their money and my ex is still smoking weed around our kids. Great idea.

Contrary to what Quinzee1 would have you believe, violent crime rates are at their lowest levels since the 1960s and 70s. All of the New England states and New York rank in the bottom 40 out of 50 states in terms of crimes per 100,000 people. We live in one of the safest parts of the country. Also, 12 other states have already decriminalized marijuana (some for decades). Massachuessetts isn't that forward thinking here, we're just following the trend.

This rocks people overestimate everything about marijuana because of the government. Booze is worst for you than marijuanan, who smokes a joint goes home and beats there wife? none, but who drinks goes and beat there wifes? tell me, rock on MA for finally decrimanlizing a harmless useful plant.

no one has ever died from smoking weed like 1 of your top killers like alcohol i have smoked for over 30 years it does not make you want to use harder drugs like alcohol or crack get a clue you dont get high off second hand smoke even if you try and yes i have smoked with alot of your cops so dont be a blind fool it is 1 of natures best medicines oh yeah look out for the guy driveing home from the bar now theres a story you should be talking about and fearing .........in fact weed dont realy do anything at all to you....... happy marry 420 to all oh yes you can tell if some one smokes weed by there big smile and happy attitude enjoy now florida needs to follow ........

Who are these idiots above saying that we need to think of the kids when decriminalizing marijuana? When your precious snowflake gets busted wouldn't you rather just pay a small fine versus having said snowflake with a permanent record that could affect their WHOLE life when they just happen to get busted trying pot for the first time?

Somehow I don't think some of you have thought your righteous indignation through very well.

it's about time! To the others who complain, I honestly feel you mustn't have ever smoked, or at least smoked much, because you act as if it's the worst thing behind AIDs. It isn't that bad, you just can't accept that possibly all that information the government shoveled down your throats about the substance was FALSE! And as for the issue on public use, I feel this must reach some sort of a compromise. As I feel sparking one up outside South Station around 30 other people is just rude and this should be illegal. However when in a public place and there's noone with in a say 50 yard radius of you...green light to smoke. This seems fair, logical, and polite to the nonsmokers!

"Please get over it.. Alcohol is so much worst. It ruins families much more than a joint once in a while. You don't see smokers being violent and killing people driving. BUT you do see people who drive alcohol do all the above. Get with the program..."

there has been countless deaths at the hands of driver who have been high from weed

I smoked for breakfast today before work!

Prisons and jails are made for CRIMINALS, not pot smokers..
the point of this decriminalization is to keep harmless pot smokers out of jail.
it doesn't mean you can go walk around town smoking a joint.
too many innocent people suffer ridiculous legal consequences for just possessing a joint or a small baggy of marijuana.
marijuana is harmless.
ANYTHING DONE IN EXCESS CAN BE BAD FOR YOU!

I cannot believe Alcohol is legal while Pot was illegal. Half the people in Jail have Alcohol problems, some say even more. I do not believe for a minute Pot is goning to lead to harder drugs. If you are going to do hard drugs you would do so without POT. Look at Holland that has POT shops, POT cafes. Have they gone crazy cause of POT. I think it should be legal and the government collects the taxes

ya you people out there that think pot is so bad... think about all the other drugs people are on.. pot heads sit and enjoy there buzz... but on the other drugs like lsd..herion..crack...ice... crank.. cocaine.. and there are pill poppers out there two...People kill others on those drugs... so all in all think about those drugs and think what people will do on those drugs verses being high on pot... people will stick themselves with needles with those drugs and it makes them crazy... potheads are lazy when there high ... so just think about other drugs and how people react on them.. verses smoking a joint.. just think about those drugs being passed in your state what would u do...

the same people who smoked pot before it was decriminalized are the same people who are smoking it now. Just because it is decriminalized does not mean that everyone will go out and start smoking if they didnt before.

So basically you shouldnt be worried about everyone driving around smoking and freaking out...crime wont jump and you wont even notice a change

Massachusetts is one seriously awesome state.

As far as Marijuana being considered a gateway drug, where is the scientific evidence of this? Rather than the drug itself leading to other more harmful drugs, could it be the idea that if you're breaking the law by smoking marijuana, you might as well break the law by trying more potent drugs? Breaking the law is breaking the law, it doesn't matter to some what they do to break that law. That's how I see it anyway since evidence shows that marijuana is not addictive like smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol have proven to be.

Why is marijuana illegal and alcohol legal anyway? There is a incredible amount of evidence showing that alcohol is much more harmful than marijuana from health reasons as well as alcohol leading to violent crime. Smoking marijuana leads to an increase in appetite not an increase in wanting to hit someone.

I just can't see people lighting up a joint in public. And another thing I believe it's still illegal to obtain pot from a dealer. I'm pretty sure you won't find pot on the shelves of the corner convience store. I would recomend we don't get to shook up about it.

"there has been countless deaths at the hands of driver who have been high from weed"

bald-faced lie

4:20 all day long

Brian, get real. If you look at any other state that has already done something similar to what MA has just done, you'll notice that drug use among adolescents has DECREASED there, unlike your blind assumption. Not to mention it's not the state’s job to babysit every child...that's the parents’ job. If parents are worried about their kid(s) using cannabis, or any drug for that matter, then it is their job to talk to their kid(s) about it and to let them know of the possible dangers. This law was passed to save responsible ADULTS from getting charged with pety, non-violent crimes. As long as parents actually act as parents, we won't even have to worry about adolescent use. If the parents don’t act as parents, then maybe you should hope your child gets caught so that, under this new law, they can get some help.

Decriminalizing cannabis is not going to change a thing in MA except make some room in courts and jails for real criminals and give a little money back to the state in the process. Anyone who would decide to get behind the wheel of a car after smoking would still be doing it even if this law weren't passed. Try and open your eyes for once, get with the times, and realize that the sky is actually not falling and life will go on.
Matt

for anyone that says POT is dangerous, SO ARE PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES!

Blaze on!

Amsterdam LEGALIZED and I believe their their society is completely destroyed now. In fact, there is a huge crater where Amsterdam used to be. Not a thriving, metropolitan city, in which droves of tourists from all over the world travel to pursue freedoms given to them by birth that neither hurt themselves or others. It's not like that at all.

FIRST, pot has not suddenly become LEGAL, it's just been decriminalized. Those two words do not mean the same thing. It is still illegal to possess weed, but if you have less than an ounce of it, you won't get sent to jail and you won't get a blemish on your criminal record that will show up if you apply for a home loan, auto insurance, student loans, or if you have to fill out a CORI form to volunteer at your kids' school. You will get a fine.

SECOND, driving under the influence is still driving under the influence, it doesn't matter if it's booze, pot, heroin, prescription meds -- it's still illegal.

THIRD, the term "gateway drugs" is a term made up to apply to the type of personality that is likely to move from one addictive behavior to another -- not the drugs themselves. In people with addictive personalities, the Ambesol their mother's rubbed on their gums as infants was probably a gateway drug. Cigarettes, beer, Benedryl, Tylenol with codeine ... all could be called "gateway drugs" ... plenty of kids discover the NyQuil coma of crazy dreams or the mild hallucinagenic effects of too much Robitussin (at least before they changed the formula) ... and these gateway drugs were likely administered by loving parents. Gateway drugs is just a term used by those who are always chasing the next high ... for most people drinking a few beers, taking a few hits off a joint, smoking a cigar, or having a morning shot of Red Bull is as far as it goes, they don't want or need more, there is no gateway peril.

The only thing that changes with the new law is less paperwork, less crowding in jail over petty possession, and no life-altering criminal record for a youthful (or not so youthful) transgression.

Possessing an ounce or less might be decriminalized, but I would not say that it is not a crime. A crime is anything that is illegal, and it is illegal (against the law) as well as punishable by a fine.

We have the same laws here in Colorado. It is definitely a fair "punishment fits the crime" fine for posession. Not that I would ever put myself in danger of getting in trouble - well, that might not be true, but pot is a pretty harmless drug to others to the punishment does certainly fit the crime in this case.

Half of the people posting on here wouldn't be so tight if they would just smoke some the mary jane...geez you people are crazy. If people want to smoke, let them ruin their lives, you don't need to control everyone's. If you are so scared that your teenager is gonna be ruined by some pot-smoking, you really need to face reality or teach your children better.

Anyone who does not agree with this law needs to take a toke. One toke and you'll change your mind. SPEAK for yourself and not what people tell you.

WOW, Some of you guys have been watching too many episodes of Dragnet, get a clue!!!

GREAT idea. Legalize pot and send a message to our children that drugs are OK. Teach our kids about sex in elementary school. Legalize gay marriage. Elect an idiot for governor.

light 'em up baby! wooohoooooooo finally.

people, this is not going to change the amount of pot that gets smoked in this state. there are already a ton of people who drive around in their cars after smoking pot. hardly any of them get into an accident. if there were a lot of people getting killed by high-drivers, we would hear about it all the time. But we don't.

you stoners are all delusional, must be from all those years of polluting your minds. pot is addictive at least psychologically. And it's not physically harmful? Since when is aspirating SMOKE into your lungs and body, to carry a chemical substance (THC) to your brain, to impair you mentally, not harmful?? haha

This is great - it makes sense and anyone who thinks it doesn't is wrong. I don't think they should criminalilze it on the street though - if it's legal it's legal, why complicate it? I don't smoke pot at all but I realize it's not any different from alcohol and now finally Massachusetts does too.

PS: The whole point was to decriminalize it so kids wouldn't have criminal records when they got older for doing what most kids do at their age. Now they want to ciminalize it if a kid is found with it in public? Where do you think they are going to smoke it - at home with their parents? Get real

I am concerned about young people. People that may be too young to make informed decisions and correct decisions, not because they are not smart but because they are young, inexperienced and impressionable. I am not blaming marijuana for all the problems of society, just the message that it is ok to do drugs. I believe adults should be able to make their own decisions about marijuana.
I am far from old and further from being sheltered but realize how agencies can play games with crime figures. Check your rehabs and jails for problems with drug abuse….you must be the sheltered one. I’m not trying scare anyone but people should make informed decisions. One drug related tragedy is one too many for any family to deal with. If you are an adult smoke your brains out, be safe and responsible. Just please pay attention to any young person around you to make sure they know their limits and can handle the decisions they make.
quinzee1

I love how a bunch of people in here are pressing the panic button and saying things like "what have we come to" while they tip back their champange and toast a happy new year.

For all you "the sky is falling" people out there, why dont you check and see how many deaths last year were due to marijuana, or involved marijuana, now how many were due to alcohol, or had alcohol involved.

It's sad that people cant figure this out for themselves. Alcohol is 100 times more addicting/problematic/dangerous than marijuana, but noone is telling you to be scared of alcohol, so you arent.

This world is full of sheep.

Prior to the election I was on the fence as to how I would vote. What turned me towards supporting decriminalization was the fact that anyone who was arrested for possession of weed showed up on a CORI check, regardless of whether or not they were convicted of a criminal offense. This is particularly problematic for teenagers and young adults who are about to go to college or are in college and need student loans in order to pay their tuition. The criminal offense shows up on the CORI check, again, regardless of whether or not they were convicted, and that bars them from obtaining student loans. I truly felt that had to change so I supported the proposition so that a major hurdle of higher education wasn't place in front of a teenage or young adult who made a mistake and got caught.

Though I am against making it easier for anyone to get their hands on drugs I love the fact that gov't has less to do with the everyday lives of people. Less gov't is good gov't. Plain and simple.

OK so I read a few comments that make no sense. First Quinzee1 are you kidding. If we had better education about drugs young people may not do it. Also if its a gateway drug what is Alcohol and if your kid got caught using and never could attend college, have a record I think you would cry foul. But now the younger generation will have a chance to become someone. Now Randonperson you have to allow the smoke to get into your body. It attaches to fat cells so you could stand in a room full of smoke and not get high. I had to drug test for a job and I dont smoke however many of my friends do. I asked my doctor and he clearly stated you only get THC in your system when YOU INHALE. Unlike butts second hand smoke from weed is harmless. Your right the guy drinking next to one wont get you high however he most likely will kill you or your kids on the road or want to fight you. AGAIN ALCOHOL is the gateway yet we still allow it. Oh Judges, DA, Cops, they all love to drink along with our Government. Ever attend a election party ever see the bill or what is offered. Oh then they all drive home. Thats why Alcohol still legal.

I love all the people on here bashing this law for reasons that they clearly have never looked into. For instance:

"Great, so now I'll get high if some nit wit chooses to smoke a joint next to me "in public" ?"

Do some research, in order for you to get high, or for it to show up on a drug test, that person basically needs to be sitting next to you in a sealed cardboard box.

"My biggest concern is the pot high driver crossing the yellow line. How would you feel if someone who took the life of a loved one because they were high and driving?"

There have been numerous studies done comparing the driving ability of those sober vs. drunk vs. stoned. The stoned drivers drove as well as the sober drivers, only slightly SLOWER.

And then there's all this talk about addiction...It has been scientifically proven time and time again that pot is NOT PHYSICALLY ADDICTIVE.

Alcohol is by far a more dangerous and addictive drug. To all those who have energy to put up a fight about marijuana, I emplore you to go look at the facts and compare it to alcohol.

Which causes more problems for society?

To poster number 9 - your assumptions that you will get a contact high from people smoking in public is hysterical and shows that you know nothing of the plant that grows from the ground -- it would have to be some world record setting quality weed if you were to feel even the slightest buzz. In a small room, or a car with the windows closed you would, but not the outrageous scenario you suggested. And why is it OK for drunks to spill into the seat, puke, fight, scream and yell...MJ smokers do not behave that way.

Since when did stoners become scientists looking for factual, and scientific evidence that marijuana was a gateway drug. It is. There has never been in the history of mankind a heroin addict that started with heroin. They got used to their lawless behavior a little at a time starting with a little weed and some beer.
For the very small number of kids who got busted smoking marijuana and had a criminal record. Good. It probably straightened you out very quickly. I would expect that the arrest was well deserved and it wasn't your first time.
For those people who are not familar with the ratios of social control, it would only take 2-3 hardcore stoners on a dorm floor of 100 to change the culture from learning and responsibility into chaos and disorder. The schools and universities had one tool to control this from happening, the law. I voted at Newton High School in November and was disappointed to see 8-10 teenagers (below 18) standing outside smoking. I wondered what on earth would possess a lucky kid in a great town standing outside one of the best schools would want to do polluting their bodies with addictive chemicals before class. I assume now they will be smoking marijuana and will think it funny that officers and administrators can't arrest them.
The tools of social control are few and fleeting. Boston won't become Kinsasha Nigeria overnight, it might take 10-20 years.

The head of the OPSS should be not be trying to override the majority of voters!! From the guidelines mentioned above:

Is public use of marijuana illegal?

Question 2 permits the cities and towns to pass ordinances or by-laws prohibiting public use of marijuana or THC and to provide for additional penalties for public use.

EOPSS recommends that municipalities enact such by-laws or ordinances and provide police with the option of treating public use as a misdemeanor offense.

The Office of the Attorney General has prepared a sample public use by-law

The only danger of Pot is weight gain. Does anyone have any twinkies? I have the munchies, something fierce!

Why all the hoop-la about not being able to smoke in public? Drinking beer is legal but not in public. Do people complain about that? This is a huge victory and we should be happy about it.

That goes for the 'Office of the Attorney General' too!

For the people that believe that passing this law is sending the wrong signals to our kids, I think it's quite the opposite. Laws, however, do not exist to be parents to children - the parents still have to do that. So, for the people that are worried about the children, could it be because you yourself fail as a parent?
This law actually HELPS the scenario of involving children, and here's why:
The penalty for possession of up to 1 oz. of a THC substance is now punishable by a $100 fine, with the following exception: If you are a minor and get caught, you have A) the $100 fine and B) you must attend a drug education course. Failure to do either of these? The fine jumps to $1000, and according to the law that was originally offered on the ballot question? The parents become responsible as well. In my eyes? It's the Commonwealth's way of saying 'Hey, remember the 50s when parents used to actually RAISE their children? Yeah, let's see more of that.'
There are arguments that this is a gateway drug. I don't believe that's necessarily the case. I think you may have a high number of people that will say that they have smoked before, but like a few people have already mentioned, correlation does not lead to causation. That's similar to the following:
- Cancer Diagnoses increase during the summer.
- Ice Cream sales increase during the summer.
- Thus, Ice Cream causes Cancer.
And this is coming from someone that doesn't even partake. God Willing, when I have kids, they will understand the dangers of drugs because I will make sure of it - but if they're going to do anything, I'd almost prefer them to smoke than drink or do anything else.
Does that mean I'm going to be giving them dime bags for their birthday? Of course not. But at least now, should they decide to try it and get caught for some reason, their professional and scholastic futures are not in jeopardy because of a single decision.
Thank you, Commonwealth.

Congratulations, Massachusetts. Be cool and show the rest of the country the way. As a transplant living in Georgia, just another reason to visit family and friends in the great Bay State. This will be a great boost for future high school reunions.
Long live freedom.

I don't care if people smoke pot, but they should have a visable sign on their car saying 'Stupid, Drugged Driver" so I can safely get out of their way.

Why won't people actually think about what this law actually does before posting instead of projecting their biggest fears into it?

The law simply changes the PUNISHMENT for the CRIME from a costly Jail-Court Hearing-Prison Sentence to a more reasonable monetary fine. That's IT. That's ALL this has done.

It hasn't made pot legal. It hasn't made pot easier to get (although it's always been fairly easy, anyway). It hasn't forced people that do not want to smoke to suddenly take-up the habit. It hasn't threatened our 'precious children's' futures...

It hasn't changed A THING - except what the punishment is for people that are found with 1 oz. or less of it. Dealers with pounds and pounds of pot in the trunk of their car will STILL GO TO PRISON!!

It is still illegal to SELL pot!! It is still illegal to BUY pot!

Learn the facts before you go spewing your fear-mongering nonsense, people. Please. It's depressing knowing there are so many ignorant worryworts out there...

Spahk, spahk!

Will the people who are against this because they think people will drive stoned please be quite. Yes you shouldn't drive while high it's called Driving Impaired. You also shouldn't drive while drunk or while taking certain prescribed legal drugs.
This isn't about traffic violations that is still illegal, this is about possession. If you are against this that is fine but at least have a valid argument. Certain people drive drunk all the time and that's why drinking and driving is illegal, drinking is still allowed though on its own.
If you don't want to smoke weed then don't but let other adults live their own lives. Each person is in charge of of their own actions.

So much ignorance on these boards. Someone mentioned the Netherlands as an example of liberty. My girlfriend is Dutch, I have been there plenty of times. Most Dutch people hate the ultra liberal society they live in because now, especially in Amsterdam, it's a magnet for all the degenerates in the world who go there thinking that all drugs are legal (which they are not). It attracts this special kind of scumbag tourism; and in most European countries that have decriminalized soft drugs, use is on the rise especially among young people between the ages of 15-25 (look it up). Furthermore the police simply cannot be bothered to constantly be giving out tickets so you see public smoking everywhere. These are things the drug addict voters did not even consider. Make smoking in public illegal and subject to arrest, just like alcohol. Come down hard on people who operate motor vehicles while under the influence of marijuana, just like alcohol.

The issue here shouldn't be to decriminalize anything, but to ask why we need these substances in the first place. We are a society of addictions (coffee, alcohol, drugs, money, tv, fast food etc) and that is the main problem. And now where do you draw the line. Are mushroom users going to demand decriminalization now too, because their drug is also natural and been around for years? Why not make the coca plant legal too? They're leaves are natural too. Or poppies. The problem with these laws is that if you open the exception gate, that can lead to a massive flood.

you cant get high off second hand smoke bud nice try. and how is this a bad thing? most kids start smoking pot because they feel rebelious...now its decriminalized so now there is nothing rebelious about it. i think its a good thing and something that needed to happen. too many kids were gettnig screwed over for having a bag of pot. what harm does pot do to you anyways? none it makes you happy and hungry whats wrong with that. i am happy this law passed and think its about time.

Listening to NPR at lunch, some a-hole DA was complaining "rapists and murderers sometimes are found with weed". So? Weed doesn't turn people into rapists or murderers, just completely absurd nonsense. I'll bet a lot of rapists are found with McDonald's wrappers in their cars. Why don't we make burgers and fries illegal?

1) If the "people have spoken" do you also take that approach when they speak in ways you disagree? Somehow I think if this wasn't passed you wouldn't be saying it

2) Sadly yes if you have less than an ounce and are smoking it then you're legal. So I suppose I should be forced to get high if you smoke it near me. It isn't dangerous so i should shut up

3) Pot is ok but cigar barts? Don't even think about it.

To all those who oppose the new policy, I challenge you do find an argument against marijuana that cannot be equally applied to alcohol or tobacco. Marijuana is illegal because racist drug warrior linked it with Blacks and Mexicans 70 years ago, not because it is particularly harmful. I am thankful to live in a state whose populace (if not it's politicians) are smart enough to realize that no one should EVER go to jail, lose their student loans, or get a criminal record for possessing a small quantity of marijuana.

Hey whatdoiknow,
I am not a MORMON!! Oh, wait, I thought you were talking about Mitt Romney. What was the question? Good tunes!

Don't fear the reefer!

Real nice Nah!

This was a great move, I'm surprised it actually passed. It is time to end the "war on drugs" and turn our efforts to education, healthcare, and job creation. Those that will fall into the traps of drug use will do so whether it is legal or not, so what if we lose a few "on the fence" pushed over by legalization. The hundreds of billions we will gain by ending the war on drugs, plus the increased effectiveness of the police to focus on true crimes, reduction in violence due to organized drug dealing, etc., will vastly outweigh that negative. Legalize cocaine, legalize it all. If people have access to good quality drugs, they won't use nasty home brews like crystal meth.

Marijuana is a gateway drug and highly addictive?
Please I used to smoke all the time and never had the thought of doing any other drug besides drinking alcohol. It's not an additive drug. I've never heard of anyone going out and killing someone because they needed weed. If you people are worried about drug use amoung the youth of this country look at the hardcore drugs like Cocaine, Heroin, oxycotin(legal Heroin). Those drugs are more of a problem i this country than weed. Most people need to step out of the past and away from the fear that has been associated with marijuana. And to all the people who say your a low life loser and can't hold a job if you smoke weed. Grow up. I work with numerous people who are damn good at the jobs and have families and they snoke weed.

Been smoking for over 43 years I have never stolen anything from anyone to support my smoking POT,After I smoke I have never gotten the desire to run and jump of any high rise window,nor have I after smoking a joint or two ever gotten so mad and furious that I would beat the living daylights out of the company I'm with, So for all of you folks that have seen the fairy tale Reefer Madness, I would strongly suggest you sit down, light up a joint or two and re-watch the movie all over again, then and only then will you understand what we the voters of this great state have given you,We took your alcoholic outrage,your killings of innocent by-standers while driving intoxicated, yourbbbbbbdrunkard break-up of families

Another step towards freedom! Congratulations to the citizens of Massachusetts!

I think the most important thing that will come out of this is an intelligent, rational, mature public discourse about the effects, harmful and otherwise, of cannibis consumption. It is obvious from the childish rantings from both the pro- and con- side of this argument that we have not quite got there yet. But hopefully now we have the path laid out to get beyond the ignorance and hysteria and start dealing with the irrational and hypocritcal attitudes towards narcotics in this country.

Yes, marijuana can be abused like other drugs and lead to problems. However, the biggest abusers wouldn't be stopped by tougher laws anyway, so I see no problem with decriminalizing it for the benefit of the more responsible users.

quinzee1, the whole gateway drug concept is such a joke. you need to think about it a bit before jumping on that ridiculous bandwagon. calling weed a gateway to harder drugs and drug addiction is identical to calling a glass of wine a gateway to alcoholism. there is absolutely no difference. this type of logic is so screwed up it's embarassing. of course someone who uses heroin has likely used weed. and of course an alcoholic has likely had a glass of wine. both need to have started somewhere. it's like saying someone who climbs up one rung of a ladder is likely to climb onto the very top rung of that ladder (which is a no-no). of course anyone who does climb onto the very top rung must have climbed onto the first rung. your logic says you cannot climb onto the first rung because it is a gateway to climbing onto the top rung...pretty ridiculous, isn't it?

How stupid can any law be. But then it was written by the Massachusetts legislature.

Decriminalize marijuana and make the marijuana laws and distrubution the same as alcohol.

Take the distribution of marijuana out of the hands of the criminal element and at the same time derive some tax relief from each purchace which could go to put more cops on the street to protect us from real crime.

"Great, so now I'll get high if some nit wit chooses to smoke a joint next to me "in public" ? I won't get drunk if you're drinking a beer next to me, but I will get high if your smoking a joint next to me. Great, thanks MA voters....now us non pot smokers are subject to second hand highs. What about my right to breath clean drug free air? Pollute your own homes with the smoke"

................Uh, move two feet away from the person smoking weed, I think you will be fine............

H-Y-S-T-E-R-I-A

Up with wine and pot, down with hard liquor and cigarettes. To hell with addictive drugs.

Since Nixton declared the war on drugs back in the 1971 Drugs are more potent and more available than ever. Wake up people the WAR on DRUGS is a losing battle we spend billions of dollars every year to fight it.

Do you know what a gateway drug is? A highlighter to ones own weakness!
People can make their own decisions and Pot isn't the reason people get addicted to hard core drugs with actual ill side-effects. It is their own weakness.
Whats worse Pot or Alcohol?
Hangover? Doesn't come from Pot
Impaired Driving? Again do some research, Some studies have shown Pot can actually improve one's driving ability and someone who typically is on edge may drive the speedlimit rather then with wreckless speed and abandon.

Thank you Guyincognito. Yes, crime is down but coverage of crime in the media as a percentage of coverage is up something l ike 600 percent. On a further note, the FBI estimates that up to 75 percent of all street crime is drug related. Look what is going on in Boston as gangs fighting over turf branch out of DOT and other neighborhoods and invade Downtown Crossing. Anyone who thinks this is not due to drug turf is deluding themselves. Legalize, tax, educate and treat on demand. Street crime would dry up. Would some people get hooked on drugs? Yes, but the violence associated with it would disappear then it would be treated like the medical problem it is instead of filling our jails.

Decriminalization does not defer responsibility. We must still be responsible and respectful (perhaps more so) to the law, our neighbors, and especially our children. This is not a green-light for anyone to use drugs...but a sensible approach to marginalizing a long-standing weed hysteria.

Nothing will prove the naysayers more wrong - and help to pass medicinal laws - than if we all show how a state of responsible adults can respectfully enjoy a natural weed and still function and thrive as a society.

That said, smoke 'em if you got 'em! ; }

People are NOT going to smoke on the streets en masse, it is a $100 fine to possess any amount under 1 oz. I don't know many people who would throw $100 away. Marijuana is already well accepted among youths -- this law will not encourage anyone to try it that wouldn't have when it was criminal. This law will result in MINIMAL changes in behavior.

To argue that someone is going to snort coke or shoot heroine because they smoke marijuana is totally ignorant. Anyone that would try coke or heroine would do so whether marijuana existed or not. Of course, most people that do harder drugs also smoke pot, but that doesn't mean that someone who smokes pot is going to graduate from it.

Why are people here all hung up on smoking marijuana, have you never heard of a vaporizer? Or cooking with it? I vaporize every night before I go to bed and I sleep like a baby.

Here's a brain-bender for you nay-sayers: if God made this planet and everything in it, one can conclude the creator also made marijuana (since it occurs naturally in nature). Isn't making it illegal the same thing as saying God was wrong?

If you are going to make a plant illegal, make poison ivy illegal! That plant has caused me way more discomfort in my life than marijuana ever has. Of course, I say that in jest. You will never win the fight against nature.

You can not CAN NOT OVERDOSE on pot. dont be ignorant. the laws in that were in affect were a great detriment to our society. puttin hundreds of thousands of people in already overcrowded jails with murderers and rapists over a plant that isnt even dangerous is ridiculous. do the research on how many ppl are killed fom high drivers and how many are killed from drunk drivers. I am a college student from a good university with access to unlimited information, also with a very HIGH GPA. I smoke almost everyday and am successful.

weed is not bad i do it all the time for all u people who never tried it i say give it a shot u just might enjoy yourself

Marijuana use was already decriminalized for people who can afford good attorneys that can get the sentenced reduced for them. The only difference now is that those who didn't have the means to pay $1000's to a lawyer don't have to have a permanent record when caught.

Man, do pot-heads have bad grammar! Proof read people,will YA!?

Hey Big Jim -- all impaired drivers should have to have signs on their cars. Pot is no more or less impairing than booze, or allergy meds, or prescribed pain killers.

And for those railing on about pot now being LEGAL -- it isn't. It's still illegal, it has just that an ounce or less has been decriminalized -- which also doesn't make it legal, it simply means that the punishment is lessened.

2009 isn't the beginning of the great Massachusetts pot party, it's merely a sensible change to an existing law.

Kaneh bosm!!! The Boston Tea party!!!
In the original Hebrew text of the Old Testament God instructs Moses to use 250 shekels of "kaneh bosm" (mistranslated as calamus by the Greeks in the 3rd century B.C) in the oil to anoint all his Priests, Kings, and Prophets, for all generations to come, including that of Jesus and even today as the title Christ /Messiah means literally; covered in oil, Anointed! "Kaneh" is also listed as an incense tree in Song of Songs 4:14. The mistake was repeated in Isaiah 43:24, Jeremiah 6:20, and Ezekiel 27:19.
Jesus came to make "Priests" of all those with eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand.
Matthew 13:11-23, 1 John 2:18-29, Psalm 133
Kaneh bosm is cannabis! It's True
www.thc-ministry.org

Dave--that is one really screwy diatribe. It is also rife with inaccuracies.

For example, I am someone that you would immediately label as a 'stoner' because I enjoy Cannabis a dozen or so times a year. And guess what Dave--I actually AM a scientist!

Back to my original post--that you and your ilk would argue that the 65% of the population that supported this ballot initiative are all idiots and couldn't possibly be professionals, educators, scientists, law enforcement officers, politicians, loving parents and more.

Face it Dave--your views and logic are at best a house of cards, and it looks like you're playing without a full deck.

puffing for 18 years and counting... never an accident, never been arrested, never ended up experimenting with anything else besides alchohol, @ my exectutive job for 10+ years !!

"118. Why all the hoop-la about not being able to smoke in public?"

Take a look at the links in the piece for the local laws they propose. Since they did not get their way they want the locals to sort of override it. Note the word CRIMINAL in the sample.

This by-law may be enforced through any lawful means in law or in equity including, but not limited to, enforcement by criminal indictment or complaint pursuant to G.L. c. 40, § 21, or by noncriminal disposition pursuant to G.L. c. 40, § 21D,* by the Board of Selectmen, the Town Administrator, or their duly authorized agents, or any police officer. The fine for violation of this by-law shall be three hundred dollars ($300) for each offense. Any penalty imposed under this by-law shall be in addition to any civil penalty imposed under G.L. c. 94C, § 32L.

Randonperson - If you get high from standing next to me, when I am smoking in public, you can expect a bill from me. YOU DIDN'T PUT IN ON THIS, MAN. Trust me, if that did happen you wouldn't complain. You'd realize what a futile waste of taxpayer money and crimefighter time it is, preventing people from doing something so harmless. And you'd realize that you should have lightened up and let people make their own choices. You'd see that if people like you didn't arbitrarily make it illegal in the first place, then criminal elements in our society COULD NOT profit from it. You created that opening for them.
Then after me and my cloud of enlightenment passed on by, you'd go back to being a complete square who has no idea what he or she is talking about, trying to force your uneducated opinion on others. There really are other more desperate social problems to be tackled. If you're looking for the cause of the decay of the morality of our youth...find a mirror. If you started treating teens like real people instead of heaping your disapproval on them, they wouldn't turn to reality-enhancers in order to put up with living with you.

AMEN Diesel.

I love this state and the intelligent voters who live here.

POT IS NOT SUDDENLY LEGAL

WEED IS STILL ILLEGAL

MJ, MARY JANE, MARAJUANA, GRASS, DOPE ... WHATEVER YOU CALL IT, it has not been legalized by the YES vote on Question 2.

It has been decriminalized -- not the same thing as legalized.

Now, instead of jail time there is a fine, now instead of a big red flag on your criminal record there is nothing if you possessed less than one ounce.

Dealers are still going to jail.

Get a grip.

Good posts Slack and Guyincognito!!!

Dave - post #115 - did you really just compare Boston to Kinsasha!? Have you ever heard the expression "the only thing to fear is fear itself"? I know most of those opposed to this decriminalization have good intentions but your rantings and ravings are those of a paranoid mind...but like I said on post #47 - just give it time and you will see that this was a positive move in the right direction.

I love this move to make it a criminal offense (local ordinances) for smoking pot in public. This is legal maneuvering that will give local police departments the power to arrest you as they have in the past and nothing has changed. Is that even legal? This is a state law and should be supported by all towns in the state regardless of local folks who want to keep it as a criminal offense.
We're not making it legal to smoke pot in public or smoke pot at all, we're making possession under an ounce a non-criminal offense. The people have spoken, leave it alone!!

Hilarious that someone thinks Amstedam's society is "completely ruined now." You gotta love the hyperbole (on both sides) of this debate. Also, can we get a moratorium on phrases like "dogs aren't marrying cats?" I know it became popular during the whole gay marriage debate, but it's getting a bit tiresome.

I can't decide. Should we decriminalize all substances, tax them as we do alcohol and then deal with that as it manifests in society? That act would deprive those who deal in illegal substances of billions. It would free up resources allowing law enforcement to nab violent criminals and white collar criminals who have recently stolen multiple billions from all of us. It would also allow us to stop paying to house the wolds biggest prison population.

Or should we go door to door with drug sniffing dogs and gun toting swat teams? If we ask the swat teams to execute all drug users on the spot we can rid ourselves of everyone using the kinds of drugs that have not yet been sanctioned by our society? That would send a message.

I like it!!! Any idea how much money is wasted every year putting potheads with families in prison? All because they prefer to not get wasted on booze...It's about time. As far a setting a bad example to children, that is not the goverments job, it's the parents last I checked. The less restrictions the gov puts on us, the better.

In order to promote an intelligent discourse on current trends in marijuana use and its consequences I invite all to visit the website of National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University,  an institution that some would consider fosters somewhat of a liberal point of view,  and read a White Paper entitled "Non-Medical Majijuana III: Rite of Passage or Russian Roulette?" published in June of 2008 and avilable to be down loaded for free.Some of the findings in the document are that:<marijuana potency increased by 175.0 percent from 1992 to 2006<from 1992 to 2006 there has been a 492.1 percent increase in the proportion
of treatment admissions for persons under 18 who cite marijuana as their primary drug compared to a 54.4 percent decrease for all other drug treatment.
The report is packed full of information on the negative affects of marijuana use, particularly among those 18 and under ,in the areas of impaired driving, decreased brain function and mental and physical health problems and the link between marijuana use and juvenile crimeand decreased academic
achievement. In a state where 25% of the budget goes toward education it seems incongruous to pass laws that will negatively impact something that
has proved to be so costly. This negative affect will be more heavily realized in urban environments where many school systems are already under achieving and only serves to exacerbate the problems. Further, the new law is inherently racist negatively impacting the urban poor at the economic level because the encouragement of drug dealing marijuana will be seen as a means to an end as opposed to individuals in the suburbs who only view marijuana use as a personal lifestyle choice. In terms of cost savings, purportedly to the court system, the truth is that another bureaucracy will be created at the local level both in administrating the civil fine procedure and the substance abuse treatment stricture called for in the new law. Once again the voting public does not see past their nose, as is evidenced by electing George Bush twice, in not fully taking the time to educate themselves on matters before the electorate. Perhaps the voting public is in fact is largely made up of pot smokers. This would explain why the same clowns that come up with such wrong headed initiatives such as the new law continue to remain in office.

achievement.

of trea

can someone answer this question: will i get in trouble if i am smoking pot on my own property? i would assume not because it's not public. but would like some clarification...

will be nice to be able to go to cape cod and take a nice long walk on the beach with a little joint on vacation and not be bothered.

Ok. Relax. Take a deep breath. I think we might have bigger fish to fry than the 17 year old high school senior who dabbles in marijuana on Friday nights. Let fill our jails and spend our well earned tax dollars on REAL criminals. Yes, marijuana is a gateway drug. But lets face it, I think your Mama raised you to know what is right and whhat is WRONG. But hey, Its always easier to blame it on the drugs. That way, Mom and Dad can rest just alittle easier at night. God Bless America and Massachusetts!

relax people...smoking and driving is still a DUI just as drinking and driving.

I watched a document about a year ago that stated that in 2002, 85% of people in America either smoke or has smoked marijuana. Its been 7 years so that statistic has to be up to 90 percent by now. It really doesn't make since to arrest people for smoking or carrying a couple of grams because if you could do that to the people who got caught you might as well arrest at least 1 person in every household in America. Marijuana is deep rooted in America and its about time to give people at least the chance to feel a little free. After all this is the lad of the free. If your not carrying pounds of weed to sell to everyone there shouldnt be a problem.

Amen Terence. Finally another intelligent poster!

So much ignorance on these boards. Someone mentioned the Netherlands as an example of liberty. My girlfriend is Dutch, I have been there plenty of times. Most Dutch people hate the ultra liberal society they live in because now, especially in Amsterdam, it's a magnet for all the degenerates in the world who go there thinking that all drugs are legal (which they are not). It attracts this special kind of scumbag tourism; and in most European countries that have decriminalized soft drugs, use is on the rise especially among young people between the ages of 15-25 (look it up). Furthermore the police simply cannot be bothered to constantly be giving out tickets so you see public smoking everywhere. These are things the drug addict voters did not even consider. Make smoking in public illegal and subject to arrest, just like alcohol. Come down hard on people who operate motor vehicles while under the influence of marijuana, just like alcohol.
The issue here shouldn't be to decriminalize anything, but to ask why we need these substances in the first place. We are a society of addictions (coffee, alcohol, drugs, money, tv, fast food etc) and that is the main problem. And now where do you draw the line. Are mushroom users going to demand decriminalization now too, because their drug is also natural and been around for years? Why not make the coca plant legal too? They're leaves are natural too. Or poppies. The problem with these laws is that if you open the exception gate, that can lead to a massive flood.

To all those who rely on the "gateway drug" theory, you're ideas are ridiculous. Going by that logic we should also ban alcohol, cigarettes and even caffeine. All are drugs found to be extremely addicting. Is it a gateway drug? Yes, but only insofar as a mathematically minded child will learn his multiplication tables before his algebra. Addicts aren't driven to their substance of choice by marijuana, they are driven by addictive tendencies and would pursue the same lifestyle regardless of the legal statutes regarding marijuana.

The funny thing is that half the posters on here who are against this are probably raging alcoholics or drink multiple nights a week. Here's a secret for you Alcohol is far worse than pot!

smoking marijuana is MUCH safer than drinking alcohol, so good, finally! read the studies if you don't believe me... alcohol is what should be made illegal... it's worse than the majority of "drugs" out there... MODERATION IS THE KEY

"Cats sleeping with dogs" is a Ghost Busters reference.

The goofy falsehoods posted here by the Prohibition crowd are a hoot!

_______________________________________________

"Overdoses are common place"

"This is the most stupidest {sic} things I have ever heard..."

"the stronger strains of cannabis, coincides with the increase of violence"

"marijuana is still an illegal, addictive drug "

"Sue tobacco companies for causing cancer, but allow pot to be approved." {Yeah. And...?}

" pot is addictive
- pot is dangerous
- pot is a gateway drug - even if for only 10% of users"

" I will get high if your {sic} smoking a joint next to me"
_______________________________________________

Bwahahahahaahah! Great material. Keep it up! :-)

Smoke em if ya got em!

Man, do pot-heads have bad grammar! Proof read people, will YA!?

Way to go Massachusetts. Next thing you know it'll be ok for gays to get married. I hope the FEDs come in and Kybosh the pot party.

i smoke too many cigarrettes and got cancer...

oh and I ate too much red meat and got type II diabetes...

we should ban all of it. right??

AL5000; geez, i had to go back and read what i wrote... i was right it was MORON! : ) no offense.

seriously though, i smoked that stuff longer than most of you have been alive. i don't know the science of addiction, but i was. i spent ridiculous amounts of time and $$ getting it and playing with it etc and had to know people i had no interest in knowing otherwise. put your money where your mouth is - give it up for a month and re-experience the world straight - i hope you won't be disappointed - if you are you have some food for thought next time you spark up. i had and have many friends who never gave it up, alas. not many ax murderers, not much violence, not much thievery, not much anything really, just a pleasant vegetative state, perpetual adolescence and very odd judgement. i never met anyone who regretted quitting it.

pot differs from many drugs (even more harmful ones) in that it lingers - a long time. it's a sedative, it dulls you, puts you in a fog. pot is a thief - it steals from you. i still take a puff now and then - might even have some around somewhere - it isn't the same magic that it was, i didn't even like it - i realized i don't need it - i see it for what it is. (BTW - this crap is a whole lot more potent than it used to be) ask yourself why you need it!! the world won't end, no dramatic change - just a few more stoned, confused, stupid people - who might otherwise have contributed more than they did. true, there are people who can function just fine on it, i know people who can drink a quart of rum and function too - but they're rare. i don't know the legal part, and don't care that much (other than the obvious silliness of it) - it'll be screwed up probably, but i know the personal part - please listen - you are wasting your time.

i'm not always happy, not always cool and laid back - sometimes you shouldn't be. i'm willing to deal with how i feel head on - it ain't always easy, and it doesn't always work out nice - but at least i don't need a drug to pull me through and soften the blow. that's what weak people do.

Terence Reardon said: "In order to promote an intelligent discourse on current trends in marijuana use and its consequences I invite all to visit the website of National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, an institution that some would consider fosters somewhat of a liberal point of view, "

If you want an academic discussion, cite a PEER-REVIEWED study, not one written by policy wonks on a fishing trip. Columbia University is a huge place, so 'liberal' is a dishonest characterization. The next time you want to start a policy debate, show up with something worth discussing.

Mass doesn't care anymore but who's going to tell that to my mama! I still have to smoke outside!

500,000 a year die from butts (nicotine or tobacco) cave dwellers...

but thats ok?

50,000 directly related to Drunk driving deaths and we are not getting into the cirrhosis of the liver (did I spell that right anal spelling nazis?)

so that 550,000 a year dying from these two LEGAL TOXIC PRODUCTS

AND WE ARE COMMENTING ON THE MARIJUANA INITIATIVE....SHOW ME ONE DEATH FROM IT AND YOU HAVE YOUR STORY

this is Massachusetts....

this is Massachusetts on Decriminalized Marijuana

ANY QUESTIONS?

Right the wrongs America and fight the REAL ENEMIES

Since Prohibition ended we the public put up with drunk drivers, belligerent drunken attitudes we have put up with the loss of our loved ones,obnoxious sexual behavior and we have had to accept it all because it's legal to drink,Well now for you drunks out there even if you just call it social drinking your still drunks get use to it, we the responsible majority are going to show you that smoking Pot is nothing near what we have had to endure since 1933 to the present,And the WAR on DRUGS is the longest WAR in the history of the world and it is a losing battle,so open your eyes and relax .

The only harm from consuming Cannabis are the Laws, Rules and Policies that govern its use.
$7.7 Billion tax dollars are invested on our behalf, Annually, for just Cannabis Eradication Programs that usually lead to certainly court, (revenue from fines, plus costs of Un necessary "Rehab" (revenue for them, Plus compliance checks via Drug tests (more revenue for that industry) and incarceration (lots or revenue/FTE's etc)
Who profits from Cannabis Prohibition?

Since Prohibition ended we the public put up with drunk drivers, belligerent drunken attitudes we have put up with the loss of our loved ones,obnoxious sexual behavior and we have had to accept it all because it's legal to drink,Well now for you drunks out there even if you just call it social drinking your still drunks get use to it, we the responsible majority are going to show you that smoking Pot is nothing near what we have had to endure since 1933 to the present,And the WAR on DRUGS is the longest WAR in the history of the world and it is a losing battle,so open your eyes and relax .

ATTENTION NAIVE PEOPLE: Marijuana is still ILLEGAL! Our courts and tax paying dollars are just no longer tied up with such minescule things. I'd rather our judicial system focus on more important crimes. Also, for all you people worried about "contact highs"...it's not like people will be running around smoking weed everywhere because they still have to pay 100 DOLLAR FINE if they get caught. so take some deep breathes. The world has not ended.

People SKIM.....don't write a long message on these boards......is doesn't get read 'cause what you wrote (hiding behind a fake name) isn't important among 500 OTHER messages!

for years the government has been brainwashing its citizens to believe that weed is a highly addictive and destructive drug...it is alll lies!

Good job MA!

next they should tax its sale and get out of this deficit in one year or less!

But that would be too easy...lets all suffer some more, that is why we live here,

ISNT IT?

Good job, Massachusetts. About time people realized that marijuana is harmless. Gateway drug? Please. The only argument for this is that SOME people who sell marijuana also sell harder drugs and pressure young dumb kids into using. Other than that, the only side effects are hungry, happy, and sleepy. Much safer than alcohol. Just remember to be responsible!

just puffed some serious, like glow in the dark kind of whack. woa..called snow doggie! snow doggie, doggie, dawg!

Oh, I get it. So we're protecting our kids from having a criminal record because all the kids do it? Yeah, that makes more sense than teaching them they don't need it and it's not healthy for them. Smoking pot puts you at risk. If you don't think so, you're on crack, too. I'd rather properly teach my 14-year-old and have them take responsibility for his/her actions than have their record protected by this "law".

Even half way across the world, there are the exact same split of opinions on cannabis use pro and against. Essentially pot is seen down here as something that is part of life in some way. From relaxing after work to having a smoke after dinner it is accepted. The sooner the government can work out a PR friendly way to tax weed sales the less drink driving and alcohol related deaths there will be. Not to mention a reduction in alcohol related abuse of women and children. (P>S. I am talking about standard organic weed, not the nasty hydro kind)

DUDE....HOW MANY ZEROES IN A QUADRILLION......

Leave it to the Editors of the Globe to suggest that a new law be written to force people to carry ID. If 65% of voters thought this bone-headed ballot initiative was a good idea, so be it, but please don't legislate away any more of our civil liberties for the sake of the stoners.

I find it quite amusing that the state insists on banning public marijuana smoking, but doesn't mind cigarette smoking in public. Because marijuana has such harmful second hand smoke effects like cancer and serious illnesses', oh...wait..thats cigarettes!! It is absolutely foolish to band smoking weed outside, but to turn a blind eye to those who smoke cancer causing cigarettes. I was curious about this so i asked my mother, grandfather, and some people I work with, ALL of them said they would rather deal with pot smoke then cigarette smoke.

How is it decriminalized if you still have to pay a fine if caught?

I am a non-smoker but am in favor of this. I believe people should be free to do as they choose, so long as it does not hurt others.

Fighting a drug war is a waste of tax money and police resources.

I can't believe you liberals down in mass got this before us up in the 'live free or die" state :)

man oh man. what a bunch of losers. smoking your pot and preaching about how it's "about time". this is the fallout for generations of people without standards, discipline, or goals beyond their own ambitions. And nope, I'm not OLD, square, or hung up on getting high as a 'moral statement' of freedom. Blah, blah, blah. Don't even bother explaining yourself. Go get high like the tools you all are.

All right Mass!!! I don't smoke it anymore, but have many friends who do. I moved to Florida in 2004, a state where you can still go to jail for possession. I really hope this will help other states make the move as well. Just consider the potential of total legalization. The country could tax the crap out of it to help pay for all of this bail-out money madness. We could end the flow of weed coming in from Mexico and Central America, countries that use the money for other types of drug production; cocaine etc. You could grow your own and not worry about the county Sheriff knocking in your door and ransacking your house. All sounds good to me!!!! Honey, break out the bong!!!!

If pot is NOT addictive, then why haven't I ever met anyone that USED to smoke it?
Of all the stoners, I know, not one of them can make it through just one day without gettin high.
If you need chemicals in your blood to make your life livable, YOU ARE AN ADDICT!
For the record I used to do coke, and lots of it. After I stopped, I estimated that I blew more than $25,000. Try to figure out how much you have spent in your lifetime, and think of how you would have liked to spend it today, ask yourself if you have ever told your kids that you can't afford to buy that video game this week, but you always make sure that you got your stash don'tcha?

Massachusetts residents came through on this one! But, is it still a criminal offense to have any pipes etc.? I hope this is not a loop-hole to continue the pressure by the state. Let me know if anyone has any more info as to that, thanks!

Massachusetts residents came through on this one! But, is it still a criminal offense to have any pipes etc.? I hope this is not a loop-hole to continue the pressure by the state. Let me know if anyone has any more info as to that, thanks!

To all of the above pot heads-try not smoking it for 2 weeks and tell me it is not addictive. 50% were high when they wrote tonight and the other 50% are just stupid. Ever hear of cancer. Smoking pot can give you cancer, hey no one lives for ever right, but there are much better ways to kill yourself slowly. And to the comment of Vietnam not being a gateway to other deaths did you ever hear of Cambodia and Pol Pt? He killed 2 Million people there after 1975. Idiot.

Terence Reardon provided TONS of useless data and proceeded to explaine how everyone is an idiot who disagrees. Here's one for you, replace the word marajuana with alcohol and let me know what the difference is... NONE!!!!! Legalize everything and let god sort them out!

As a believer in liberty and freedom, the question is always the same- "define the harm the accused has inflicted". My use of any substance in my own home does no one any harm. If I operate a motor vehicle recklessly, that is the crime of reckless driving- regardless of any or no substance use. If I steal to support a drug habit, that is the crime of theft, regardless of why I stole. Someones desire to see society a certain way is no reason or justification to force me to submit to their desire by law.

But I do wonder how long it will be before you see a whole lot less "weed" and a whole lot more "trailer park lab" made THC. As long as it is not made by a pharmaceutical company (hence not meeting the prescription test in section 2) should meet the terms of this law. "weed" is about 4% THC, lab made THC should be 100%+- .

Save the Trees-Smoke Grass!

115. You are so wrong. Many of the top performers at universities and companies smoke marijuana. Many people can balance their time well enough to squeeze in some relaxation after a long day of studying or working. Marijuana affects your ability to study or perform mental tasks while you are high. When you are not high, you can perform to the best of your ability, even if you have been smoking for years.

I smoked all though college and graduated with a 3.9 - from a top school. I got an MA degree as well (top honors) and work as a professional. I am fully responsible in my work, my family life, my finances and all other aspects of my life. So what if now and then I want to smoke a little before bed and relax and watch a cartoon? Y is that bad?

hahaha its funny how mad americans get over this. loosen your conservative belt america and worry about the things actually causing harm to your society. like who you elect into office for 8 years . p.s. terrorists are a myth. Heart disease kills about 500,000 americans a year. maybe that should be a priority.

#125 wrote: "We are a society of addictions (coffee, alcohol, drugs, money, tv, fast food etc) and that is the main problem."

No, we are a society of people such as yourself, who like to label habits "addictions". An addiction is something that causes dependency..with physical symptoms of withdrawal without the substance. Coffee, alcohol and certain drugs cause that (though not marijuana). Money, TV, Fast Food...well these are habits, not addictions...actually money is something you need to survive.

I also like to read every day..am I addicted? Also tend to shower on a daily basis..i guess i'm addicted to cleanliness.

Shecky - you are an idiot. Alcohol is a drug too. What message does that send? Or are you saying the kids just don't realize it's a drug and that makes it all OK? Ridiculous!

You people in Mass are really shaken up by this aren't you?

I hope that you all realize that about a dozen or so other states have already enacted decriminalization laws. Some such as California(THE MOONBATS--OH NO) and Ohio(where good, true, real americans live). Of those states that have decrim laws, they have had minimal problems doing so. So for crying out loud, enough of this "OMG I HATE LIVING IN EXTREME MASSACHUSETTS AND HERE IS WHY!!!!!!!"

The attorney general of Arizona has even spoken publicly about the possibility of legalization in recent weeks. So, get over the "woe is the world, everyone hates children" routine. If we actually cared about children, we'd ban them from eating fast food, caffeine, excessive sugar, etc, but we don't see that now do we?

Something tells me that those that are on here whining about this fell asleep at the switch and didn't care on election day, but now after question 2 passed, the world is coming to an end. The stuff is still illegal people and the war on drugs is a joke.

"marijuana potency increased by 175.0 percent from 1992 to 2006"
Which is why people smoke less of it. They only take a few drags. People used to smoke entire joints. If anything, higher potency is better because it allows users to inhale less smoke to achieve a desired effect.

"from 1992 to 2006 there has been a 492.1 percent increase in the proportion
of treatment admissions for persons under 18 who cite marijuana as their primary drug" the key note here is PRIMARY.
and no one is disputing that marijuana can have detrimental effects on child development..which is why the penaltiy for those uner 18 includes rehab and a much higher fine.

an

compared to a 54.4 percent decrease for all other drug treatment.
The report is packed full of information on the negative affects of marijuana use, particularly among those 18 and under ,in the areas of impaired driving, decreased brain function and mental and physical health problems and the

"Or should we go door to door with drug sniffing dogs and gun toting swat teams? If we ask the swat teams to execute all drug users on the spot we can rid ourselves of everyone using the kinds of drugs that have not yet been sanctioned by our society? That would send a message." -Dick.

Dick, sir, please do me one favor and move to communist china, because your idea of America seems to vary far from the founding principles I and would hope others believe in. Can we execute the idiots smoking cigarettes, causing barfights, the alocholics, the wife-beaters, the obese people weighing down(pun intended) our health care system?

Scary stuff my friend, scary stuff you spew.

And now, when the economy continues to tank, and poverty and the ensuing crime increase.... we can blame it all on the decriminalization of pot.

Because we all know, the only reason anyone would ever break in to a home or car, is to steal goods to fence to buy pot.

Yes, I'm being sarcastic, before some stoner goes off on me. I smoked pot nearly daily for almost 30 years. I graduated at the top of my class throughout high school and college. (bragging: the ONLY summa cum laude in my program - which had over 100 students). Worked at the director level at a couple of high profile municipal agencies.

I'm still waiting for the horrific health and psychological effects to kick in. I quit 5 years ago, because I got bored. Maybe that was the apathy they talk about??

Many of the detractors make their living doing interventions, law enforcement and such. They love going after marijuana because it is so much easier to find. (PS. Stoners, if you smoke a blunt and go out in public, YOU are the only one who can't smell it on your clothing!)

That's enough. I am glad Massachusetts is a little closer to coming to their senses on this one.

Awesome, Massachusetts is just awesome.

When is the last time you heard of someone dying from Pot?
Cigarettes and alcohol kill 3,000,000 people a year worldwide you jagoffs..

It`s about time it has been decriminalized finally the lefty Cambridge liberals got something right!

p.s. I don`t smoke weed but YaY!!

First the north fought against slavery...then they try to tell people it is okay to be homosexual....now this?!?. Im moving down south where i dont have to deal with this crap. Keep my kids protected in a nice southern church away from all you crazy people.

YAY!!!! Don't let the prohibitionists invalidate the will of the people.

to all the premadonas out there boooo hooooo i say fire it up most all the coments that i read of people that dont smoke are so funny because of the ignorance of the weed they no not what they are talking about they only know what they heard from people that dont know what they are talking about ..... its more dangerous to have a gun in the house thats supposed to protect you ....its more dangerous to drive in snow but we do .... weed wont do anything to you but let you smile.....and us pot smokers work and we work hard and with a smile on our face and yes we work high better then most work at all....i hope all states realize that they are jailing us pot smokers for nothing at all and wasteing space that could be used to put real criminals behind bars besides why should we pay for pot smokers in jail with the munchies must cost alot to feed them all.....

Way to go-goofy hippie pot weird stoners.
All potheads are losers.

Do the right thing Massachusetts THC smokers and pretend the law didnt pass and keep hiding what you do. This law helps when for some reason one gets pulled over and the officer finds your stash. No more ruined lives.As for all you drivers worried about stoned drivers out there, were are the ones driving the speed limit or slower and are very focused on the road. Sorry drunks out there, no new laws for you because you are the ones killing people.When was the last time you herd someone die from an overdose of weed? One would have to eat pounds of the stuff in a short amount of time to OD. The drug problem isnt with Marijuana. Its pills and the ignored drug ALCOHOL and Polonium 210 radioactive particles in cigarrets .Weed has never been a problem in this country only a cash cow for law enforcement.Go to Borders and buy a book on Marijuana and find out for Yourself how this country before 1938 used Marijuana and its thc free Hemp for everything we now buy from chemical companies. Maybe someday we can save this planet by being more aware of what we used to use naturally instead of what we can produce for a profit with ill effects on the environment. Smoke the same way as before the laws changed and we wont be looking like the pothead state that none of us want to be living in.

I don’t smoke the stuff and never have, but I applaud this decision. We have spent way too much time and money over the years on drug convictions that just clog up the already over burdened court and law enforcement systems. If people want to smoke Marijuana I say let them, in fact let’s take it a step further and sell it at the package store with a large tax attached. That would be a better decision then taxing commuters by increasing tolls.

It really is about time, pot is benign its not funny. Alchohol is so much more dangerous and lethal, you never hear of a fatal crash involving pot. I smoked for 19 years at least an OZ a week, worked running computer systems for the same company for 12 years. Never out sick, never had any troubles, then on June 16 2004 I was forced to quit because I moved to a RED state of Nevada where everyone drug tests you for a job, supporting my elderly mother at this time I need the job more than the pot, my point: After smoking all those years I quit in one day never looked back never "craved" it, never wanted to do other drugs this gateway argument is a crock and they know it. Congratulations Massachusetts with gay marriage your really showing America what FREEDOM is all about just like we did in the American Revelution....

Finally a sensible marijuana law. Hooray Massachusetts!

they legalized it so obama can continue to smoke pot and cocaine

What an amzing state we live in. I can't smoke tobacco in bars which was leagal for hundreds of years, but now I can smoke pot on the street corner, just not at the race track. Because dog racing they also told me is bad. Am I the only one that sees the madness?

Yay,

Once known for it's "Blue Laws", Mass is now famous for it's Green Law.

What everyone on here fails to see is this isnt so much about the decriminalization of this particular substance but more about living our lives the way the early settlers wanted us to, the only reason we are here in this country today. Government is supposed to be here to work for us, not to involve themselves with our personal lives on every detail that we live.
It is illegal to walk down the street smoking the same as it is for alchohol, it is still illegal to get behind the wheel of a car while impaired, as it should be, but now 16 year olds will receive treatment rather than jailtime when they try it and get caught, and im sorry but your kids for the majority are going to try it no matter how well you raised them. This state as well as the rest of the country is in a fiscal crisis, this is one step in the right direction. If the government sold marijuana we would be out of debt in one year, and I gurantee you wouldnt have many more marijuana smokers than you do today.

RUN FOR THE HILLS!

Here's a thought people. Since law enforcement officers are people too, is it fair to say that they can enjoy a joint before they report for duty? How will you react if you smell it on them when they respond to your call? Perhaps they are not impaired to the point that they wouldn't be able to operate a police car; but, they appear somewhat slow and laid-back at your need for service? I think there will be some challenges from police unions and possible revamping of substance abuse policies, if the law isn't fully clarified. I know some police officers who would love to enjoy the personal lifestyle choice as others, but are prohibited from doing so because of the nature of their work. Pandora's Box has been opened.

I turn 60 this year and used to be an avid, long-time smoker of marijuana. But for more than 15 years now, I've not smoked pot or ingested alcohol. To all non-users, I can say that pot is definitely NOT addictive, while alcohol IS.
It's time to end the hysteria over marijuana that's been going on since the 60's, when pot became a symbol of the counterculture that conservatives detested, and still do. I could never understand how you can make illegal a weed that literally grows wild in a ditch alongside a road. Pot's also shown to be beneficial to those suffering serious disease.

Congratulations, Massachusetts for getting it right. I can understand why people believe that Marijuana is a "gateway" drug, but in my opinion, it's just easy for the conservative, "I don't need pot in my life to get high" attitude of others to rain on others parades. I graduated from college with Bachelors and Masters degrees, and have a great job. I SMOKE POT, I AM SUCCESSFUL, AND NOT LAZY. It's time for people to understand that weed is not a big deal, absolutely does not lead to the usage of "harder" drugs, and that people who smoke weed are not the stereotypical hippie-burnouts. Hopefully this message will get across to the 35% of you who are close-minded.

On behalf of us Celtic haters in L.A. I gotta say, "Hats off to Beantown Mass."

In recognizing your leadership on this subject, we hereby pledge to take one day off from cursing the Celtics.

-LakerLover

I think Boston should take a hint from the Netherlands look at there economy compared to ours look how pretty there country is compared to ours all because pot is legal and people flock there for vacation to but it & smoke.

Hmm..I read some of these comments, and I see what the ant-pot people are saying, but I ask them this....who would you rather have watch your children at night...a pto head who would fall asleep on the couch when the kids are in bed, or a drunk that would beat or molest your kids becuase they were mad or horny? Marijuana has NEVER caused an overdose death, marijuana has NEVER been directly linked to domestic abuse, molestation, rape, or murder; however, alcohol, your favorite thing to do to forget reality has lead to every thing I brought up...I give great kudos to the people of Mass for decriminalizing a less harmful and more profitable drug (now if we could only tax and regulate)

people are stupid...decriminalized means you will not be taken to jail, but instead receive a fine...so that 100 dollar quarter sack will now cost you 200 dollars. second hand smoke does not affect other people in the aspect of getting them high, unlike second hand tobacco smoke where that can lead to health problems such as asthma (i have asthma from second hand tobacco smoke). smoking in public should always be illegal, just as driving under the influence. smoking in your house, or a cafe is the best bet if you want to get high. Marijuana is a safer drug, and it is ridiculous that the government would rather you drink yourself to death than smoke yourself to sleep.

I'm disappointed that The Globe is taking such a hard nosed stance against this law. The news is the news, but using it to further the paper's bias is a little disconcerting and not worthy of my expectations for fairness from The Boston Globe.

Pot is not a gateway drug...there are many people out there who strictly smoke pot and do not end up moving on to anything more hardcore. It is up to the user to determine where they take it. The abuse of it is no more dangerous than alcohol abuse, but we surely are not enforcing prohibition. In terms of drugs, I would much rather have my child, if they decide to experiment, choose to try something that is from the Earth, therefore created by God and not manufactured in a lab and certainly nowhere near as addictive if at all. It's a waste of taxpayer's money and police time and effort to arrest and prosecute people with small amounts of pot in their possession. We need to open our minds more. Making small amounts of pot legal doesn't open doors to making things like coke and heroin legal - people are overreacting big time.

This is a good thing. That being said I do worry about people being outright arrogant about smoking their weed. There is no reason to impose your will on the people who don't smoke. After all weed-smokers have fought to stop having non-smokers wills imposed on them.
If someone was arrested with a small amount of marijuana last year the fine would have been about $100 after the arrest ad court procedings. Now the state will recieve the same amount of money without incurring all the costs leading up to the fine. Great way to make money fo the state without jailing people who pose no threat to anyone but theselves.
II

Prohibitionists are Now the Minority.
More than 90% favor legalizing Cannabis for Medical use and well over 60% favor Legalizing it for responsible Adult Use.

Science Trumps "REEFER MADNESS".

A fatal dose of Cannabis is equal to a "joint" the length of a football field and would have to be consumed by within 15 minutes.

People who see this as a 'Big issue' are against this for what real reason? "Oh no! Marijuana is going to bring the wrong impression on younger society!" HELLO! The only thing that is going to hurt this generation is society itself-Brainwashed! I'm sure you'd love to see your kid grow up to "work hard" in a little office, working long hours just to provide for her/his family that still isn't enough. They'll work a job they don't even like just to pass by. It's not enough to pay for the mortage, insurance, their kid's college funds, etc. Even retirement money isn't a damn anymore.
So what is the real issue here, hmm? Days are getting harder and harder for us Americans. And you wonder why there is a huge substance abuse problem? Marijuana will make these Americans sleepy. So back off and let them dream.

So you antis are worried about a

Why not legalize to a sensible level with sensible applicable laws? If the amount of nicotine can be maniplulated in cigarettes, then surely, the amount of THC in a bone can also be controlled by the science behind agriculture. And who could grow a better product than the American farmer?! Produce it, package it and slap a tax on it...like booze. There's an entirely new revenue stream for the government just waiting to be tapped. That doesn't even address exports.

Oh yeah, and then there's the inherent benefits in being able to grow hemp without the current stigma attached - one acre of hemp able to make paper, etc to every four acres of trees destroyed....and it's renewable every four or five months. And there has to be a way to use hemp as biofuel - food for thought for all of you with homes heated by oil. These low prices for home heating oil are sure to be temporary.

We need rational, reasoned debate on this subject - not paniced conjecture on the part of those who have no idea what they're talking about as they slide behind the wheel after their seventh Dewars and water.

For now, the people have spoken.

It's no longer a crime to have one ounce or less of pot
Those who are caught with an ounce or less would get a ticket, a $100-1,000 Fine?
wtf? theres no crime involved why would you still pay a fine?

ALCOHOL IS THE WORST DRUG AROUND CLAMING MORE LIVES EACH
YEAR THAN ALL ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES. SO IF SOMETHING AS MINOR AS
A FEW GRAMS OF WEED WHICH IS NON-LEATHAL CANNOT BE POSESSED HOW CAN YOU GO INTO A LIQUOR STORE AND WALK OUT WITYH A QUART OF WISKEY WHICH IF CONSUMED RAPEDLY WILL KILL
YOU. WEED IS THE LEAST OF SOCIETIES REAL PROBLEMS.

WHO CARES DOPERS GOT THIER WAY.... MOST DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING BUT GETTING HIGH. DRIVING HIGH NO BIG DEAL ! DOPE HAS NO PROVING EFFECT ON DRIVING. DOPE HAS NEVER KILLED ANYONE! I CAN FUNCTION PEFECTLY WHILE HIGH! NO ONE WILL KNOW! MY BOSS CAN NEVER TELL! THESE ARE ALL EXCUSES OR REASONING I HEAR FROM MORONIC STONERS ON A DAILY BASIS. THANKFULLY I WILL NOT HIRE STONERS AND THE ONES THAT GET BY MY TESTS WILL BE FIRED THEM THE MINUTE I FIND THEM HIGH! AND THERE HAS BEEN A FEW

Congratulations to those people who don’t care about the youth of our society. We as a society are going through one the worst substance abuse problems ever witnessed in our country’s history........................"
"I don’t think the people who voted for this law really thought out the possible ramifications. Congratulations and good luck…sometimes you get what you wished for…and then wished you didn’t."

Look who's talking prohibition of cannabis is one of the main reasons why there are all the problems. You lie to a kid about a mostly harmless plant and why would he think it is different for OXY or smack? Before prohibition of cannabis there were no drug problems. You support the illegal dealers and the status quo of addicts and you don't think about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The people that voted for it (most of whom don't use cannabis by the way) know what's going on, not you.

Pass the kutchie pon the article side! liberdade! fraternidade! Now let's get rid of the sauntering and loitering laws. I'll support any pol who supports toking and sauntering.

Myth :I'ts for the Kids; "those people who don’t care about the youth of our society" and etc

Fact: Teen use in states where cannabis is Legal for Medical use has Dropped! Look it up on the individual State Gov websites.

Smoking pot doesn't make someone a loser. But, there are a lot of losers that smoke pot.

the term gateway drug is a bunch of b/s people aren't satisfied with something so simple and natural so they choose to do harder drugs.. that's like saying beer is a gateway alchohol if you drink it it's going to lead to the hard stuff b/s. I like to smoke pot and have never had any ill effects maybe a little high over the next day if i overindulged the night before. get the same kind of feeling from taking nyquil when i don't feel well. I had to give it up because of drug testing at work and it was no problem i miss it but oh well.. let's see someone who's been drinking for 20 years quit that easy then talk to me about pot laws.

It's about time, we've had this in Cali for years!

Finally tax payers money is not spent on housing some guy or gal for years on a small amount of week. I've been smoking it since i was 14, and have a successful business, a loving and caring wife and three boys to unlike some idiots who said we're all "losers", where's your house out I'll come buy it so you can move to a commie country.

Dabro

Look at comment #249 by pass the oreos ..... way to go, well said . We need more well educated people like you on our side. The way you put that makes perfect sence.

The anti-pot commenters here are just afraid and angry that other people will do something that their self righteous, all mighty egos disapprove of. They can't stand it when someone has a different belief system than themselves, because they are always "right". If these people had their absolute way, this country would'nt have any freedoms at all, except for freedoms that they deem appropiate. In other words, an un-democratic dictatorship.
Congratulations Mass. This is not just a decriminalization law, but a victory for democracy. LET FREEDOM RING!!!!

There's a lot i could rant about here right now, but the main thing i want to say has to do with the people who say they are afraid to drive because of decriminalization. Put all the gateway drug, ruining our childrens lives b/s aside and take one simple look at the news you read or see every day, now make note of how many alcohol related accidents you see and compare it to how many marijuana related accidents you see. To be completely honest i haven't heard anything at all about pot causing trouble, but i see plenty of fatal accidents related to intoxication. does anyone disagree?

I LOVE MARIJUANA AND BOSTON! :) BOSTON IS THE NEW AMSTERDAM. IM GONNA GET HIGH AND DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND BECOME A HUGE LOSER AND WASTE OF SKIN.

stop assuming that everyone who smokes pot is going to ruin their lives and yours. youre retarded.

I wish the rest of the nation would follow.

The U.S. Govt tried for years to find a single case where marijuana caused lung cancer. They could never prove it. Then just last year, they found a case in Africa where a man who did not smoke cigarettes but did smoke marijuana had lung cancer. They touted "See, now this proves it". What a joke. Once case that could have been the somewhat 5% of people who actually get lung cancer but don't smoke, and the U.S. Govt thinks they can B.S. us...... Cigs and Beer are the real dangers to this society, especially cigs..... I tell my kids I would prefer(for their own safety) that they smoke an occasional joint than to smoke cigs every day. Cigs are killing so many people, yet they stay legal.... Alcohol does more damage to the body than pot. You can drive intoxicated with pot and have no chance of blacking out and running over someone, but I can't say the same about alcohol where you certainly can black out and take someone out. I am waiting to hear about Barney Franks decriminalization of marijuana bill. I don't know where that stands, but it is about time that this country deals with this issue once and for all. All the people who believed the Govt propaganda about how bad pot is are either now dead or getting to old to make their voice heard. The baby boomers should be dictating what is acceptable, and we know that this group was the first to experience pot and know it doesn't hurt anyone.

The state also asked communities to consider passing local ordinances criminalizing the use of marijuana in public, which today is only a civil offense if the smoker possesses an ounce or less.

Is it legal or not? An ounce or less to get ticketed a civil offense does not make it legal wtf

You know why 420 is such a popular number? Because there are 420 known chemicals in pot that cause cancer. So when pot heads say that drinking kills more people than pot, they aren't exactly lying. Pot won't directly kill you, but the lung cancer it gives you sure will. The potency of pot is 10x that of a regular cigarette. Nevermind the fact that it leads to gang violence and violence during deals gone wrong.
I don't have a problem with one guy getting high in his basement. I do have a problem with everything that goes along with it. Besides, for every one successful person who hapns to smoke pot, there are probably 15 or 20 pot heads who live off of the U.S wlfare system who gets his fix from my taxes.

honestly im glad to see this happening and to the people that dont like marijuana then go somewhere else. No one says you have to smoke it or even be around it that is all your decision but for the people who do enjoy smoking they shouldn't punished for it. Its the same damn thing as if someone were smoking a cigarette its just a different plant. Its not like theyre legalizing meth or cocaine its MARIJUANA. People should have the right to do as they please. Granted there should be some rules. But people should be allowed to posses marijuana and smoke it as long as theyre not like sitting on a bench out in public smoking and everybody having to walk by has to smell it. Recreational use of the drug as long as its not in public should be allowed. There should be an age limit of course If the government were to legalize marijuana and tax it they could make so much money. But honestly id rather be sitting somewhere and have to breathe in marijuana smoke which is pure plant then having to sit and breathe in some nasty cigarette smoke which has stuff in that nobody wants to breathe in. I think we should legalize marijuana and ban cigarettes. Have you ever heard of someone dying from smoking too much marijuana?

This is for quinzee you really need to do your reading. In reality there is no overdoes point for marijuana and test have shown that kids with ADD have made better test scores while on marijuana, its a calming substance. And as for your breaking and entering theory, marijuana doesn't give you a hype, or sudden energy burst, it mellows you out calms you down. Then there is the gateway drug thing. that is a choice of the person, i've been smoking marijuana off and on since i was in 7th grade and I'm doing fine in school and i have not used any other drugs since then because i don't WANT to. but it should be treated like alcohol, as in you can't use and drive and other things of that nature. So you go WA do your thing but do it in moderation and be safe.

'Quinzee1', adamantly against this new law, wrote, "You’ll be safer smoking marijuana than you would be a regular tobacco cigarette."

Well. Yeah. Exactly.

LIGHT EM UP, ALL YOU BRAIN DEAD HIPPIE WANNABEES!! TOKE IT UP, EAT YOUR MUNCHIES, AND SIT THERE LAUGHIN AT YOURSELF HA HA HA DUDE! JUSTIFY WHAT YOU DO ANYWAY YOU WANT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE JUST ANOTHER WEAKMINDED OR SHOULD I SAY BURNT OUT MINDED LOSER! SO KEEP ON HITTIN THAT BONG AND KEEP THINKING YOUR PATHETIC LIFE ON THE PIPE IS THE COOL THING TO DO. MEANWHILE THE REST OF US HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO, LIKE HIT THE GYM!!

Oh Spicoli, how ironic you share a name with a stoner pop-culture icon (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, try to keep up).

Your argument is something we "BURNT OUT MINDED LOSERS" like to call 'ad hominem' Again, try to keep up here. Ad hominem consists of replying to an argument or factual claim by attacking the source making the argument or claim, rather than by addressing the substance of the argument or producing evidence against the claim.

Give me some facts about the dangers of smoking pot and I'll respect what you have to say. But don't just mash your keyboard with caps-lock on and attack people who are trying to make a valid argument. It just makes you look foolish and immature.

No intention to offend whatsoever but....for those who have strong feeling against people who chose to smoke...they need to have an aunt with terminal cancer who one day calls them over to help clean house,etc and then, after the work is done she would say' thanks for your help...now, you just relax and join me please and smoke some grass! ya this grass that helps me deal with extreme pain and discomfort! ya this grass that enables me to eat and not waste away!ya this grass that helps me see feel experience rejoice in LIFE and all the pleasures in LIFE, this life of mine that is coming to a close...the enjoyment of the slow passage of time-however small or insignificant each moments' pleasure might seem-of a warm sunny afternoon lazing around with your sweet auntie of 70 pounds!" Now, a truthful statement of true compassionate concern for naysayers...for those of you who have never felt the pleasant high of mild thc intoxication, you are like children who say they dislike ice-cream...in other words given the right or favorable circumstances(in this case under the good influence of cannabis) a person could well overcome a strong dislike for ice-cream(or blue cheese salad dressing) to their great surprise or amusement. Well anyway, those who get it; good those who don't; just move on and best of luck...

An ounce is a ton of marijuana. Plus I think this can promote trade and friendly relationships among people. Let's hope this happens in CT next.

Al Right Hamilton, caps lock off buddy. The arguement is ridiculous because the use of Marijuana serves only one purpose, and that is to "get high". It is now and always will be a schedule I drug because it serves no medicinal purpose other than, guess what "get high". Check the US Supreme Court decision on that. Marijuana which contains THC, simply put, is a mind altering drug that effects memory, learning, perception, problem solving, loss of coordination, increased heart rate, and anxiety. These are facts my friend, and to try and dipute the facts because you justify being high, is what is foolish!!!

Finally we can go back to the times of peace and love! I hope other states decide to fallow the lead. Think about it weed is the only drug you cant over dose on or die from unless you your self put your life at risk. It can be safer then cigs and it helps with a lot of problems ADD ADHD seizures cancer extreme pain ect. I think hard alcohol and beer and wine should be illegal before they even think about making weed illegal. its more of a threat to your health and your body and to many familys and people are lost either dead or sloshes for drinking. Tests show that weed doesnt effect your memory or learning and it can help with anxiety i say more power to the states that have legalized it.

Oh my god I cant believe the nerve of some people.
To the guy talking about Pot making people cross the yellow line and hit drivers... What are we gonna do, make radios, CD's, phones, mcdonalds, friends talking, and the million other things that equal many more deaths from driving mistakes illegal ?? Wake up people.

Some lady mentioned Pot being a "Gateway" drug. This isnt D.A.R.E class lady. There is NO such thing as a "Gateway" drug. Its a myth you were forced fed. "Gateway" just means you tried it first. It doesnt mean it made you try other drugs. In that case the worst "Gateway" drug is alchohol, Cigs, Television and fast food. Because all those things I tried before I ever touched pot :)
Have a nice day Im going to light one up :)

I drink to much i die. i smoke to much i eat. why is one legal and the other not? money money

The stupidity and ignorance of some of you people astounds me.
What has caused the "war" in the south, around the Mexican border? Marijuana.
What is the source of 60% of the income for the Mexican drug cartel? Marijuana.
How much potential revenue is lost due to the prohibition of marijuana? 40 billion dollars annually.
Decriminalize marijuana, regulate it, and pick up the $40B annually in tax revenue; $40B is not pocket change in my opinion.

Sorry folks, but prohibition does not work. Time to apply common sense to the drug problem and see what happens. Marijuana is harmless when compared to alcohol and tobacco. I do not use marijuana but believe it should be regulated like alcohol and tobacco and heavily taxed. We should take the money we spend on marijuana prohibition and attempt to stop crack cocaine and methamphetamine use as these two drugs really are dangerous. Maybe the revenue generated by a pot tax would help the economy?

Those of you who think this law will make matters worst are stupid. Hippies are still going to smoke weather this was passed or not. Our tax money was being used towards stupid arrest on people having less than an ounce on them. It is a waste of time and energy on part of the police, when they could be working on worst cases. Also legalizing marijuana and taxing it can bring billions of dollars to the us in profits, which in turn can help us out with this recession we are currently facing. It is one of the largest cash crops in our country.

alabama needs to learn from mass

Lies like the one below or the reason that it was made illegal in the first place. Please if you don't know what you are talking about don't post unethical and unproveable ideas that you have for everyone to see. It's common sense to know if someones smoking weed next to you that you won't get high from it. What are you like 12??

[[[[Great, so now I'll get high if some nit wit chooses to smoke a joint next to me "in public" ? I won't get drunk if you're drinking a beer next to me, but I will get high if your smoking a joint next to me. Great, thanks MA voters....now us non pot smokers are subject to second hand highs. What about my right to breath clean drug free air? Pollute your own homes with the smoke ]]]]

To those people that constantly claim marijuana to be a gate way drug, I agree to a point. It is only a gateway drug how ever for those people desperate enough to stay on that drug abuse train until the end. You see, each individual has their own reasons for getting high.

Some people just smoke marijuana after work to relax. They have no need from the drug past that. It can just be that necessary constant the individual may need to break from their work cycle to their home life. This type of individual you would call a casual smoker. He or she could be cook that always has a smile on his face at your favorite restaurant, or maybe your kids' quirky science teacher. These types of people may smoke marijuana as a regular thing their entire lives without ever reaching out to harder drugs.

Now we have to take a look at the type of person that uses drugs and abuses them. These are the same individuals in society that are victims of things like alcohol abuse, or self mutilation, or suicide. Criminal persecution is not the type of thing we need to offer these individuals. The type of person that has an emotional issue deep enough that they either don't care about themselves enough to hurt themselves knowingly needs every ounce of help they can get. Putting these people in jail is not only hurting our society as a whole, but leaving behind the wrong example for future generations. Compounding negatives like prison on an individual like this is dooming them for the rest of their time on this earth. I would like to think most of us were intelligent enough to see the harm caused by approaching drug abusers as criminals rather than citizens in need of emergency medical assistance.

It gives me hope today to read this news. It is a shame Portugal beat us to the punch on this type of approach to drug abuse, but I'm glad we're still capable of learning here at home. Maybe one day the drug war going on in our country and around the world will finally come to an end. We must admit to ourselves that we can't solve everything in this world we don't like with gun powder and blood.

Nice job Mass!

PROHIBITION, THE GATEWAY DRUG! educate yourself! THE REAL GATEWAY IS PROHIBITION ! In at the Netherlands 33% of kids stopped using (on their own) because they were BORED! PROHIBITION CREATES the ALLURE! it IS the gateway! BE OPEN TO LEARNING! AMERICA! If you want to HELP the youth in this country then help them LEARN to make EDUCATED decisions!
Does your state or municipality have millions of extra dollars to throw away?!
Massachusetts STOPPED the insane ABUSE of VALUABLE RESOURCES (MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS ANNUALLY) and to let our BRAVE and HARD WORKING POLICE OFFICERS solve serious voilent crime! DEAL WITH IT!

HAHAHAHAHAAH hahahahahaa the police got screwed on this one now i can blaze up right in their face

this is a step in the right direction, but legalization is the only way. hopefully people start to realize the truth and put away their ignorance once and for all. thank you.

dudes relax its peoples own choice to smoke so like if you cant understand that every one has there own point of views and there own life then you should be in jail thats like trying to be a dictator and when ever one of those comes around they gain in life then fall alone and unhappy i myself do not smoke but some great people do, and that does not change how i feel about them its there choice i cant hate them or be mad about that i think smoking weed is perfectly fine

I would not buy anything on the street from a dealer or grower. i want to know that it is pure and tested safe. It should be sold by a pharmacist as medical marijuana as a replacement for sleep aids and pain relief and there should be a card to get it for enjoyment, but it should track your habits to see if there is a problem...not individually but as a state...no penalty.
Who wants bootleg gin from the prohibition with methanol in it. Who wants marijuana with PCP, Scopolamine, tobacco, chocolate for color (really). I have seen it all in Holland. Grow it yourself or buy it ethically.
You should use a vaporizer to get the THC with no combustion...so those laws shouldgo

my favorite comment ever is pot is a gateway drug wow you are a nub...
You want to know the real gateway drugs lets first start by not calling it a gateway drug but a gateway addiction ok thank you now lets begin to name true gateway addictions
1 Sugar when you are just a baby
2 Soda, coffee, caffeine, and all the latest torin....
3 Alcohol by far the worst you have some of this and you will jump off the roof of a 9 story building but no you would never try marij or crack to scary.... NUBS
wake up people marij makes crazy people mellow and makes mad people happy and can be used everyday if one choses to do so but alcohol man one day is enough than you just want to go kill someone or yourself do you want to talk about driving under the influence of either pot or alcohol and compare...I did not think so CIAO for now fat cow

There are allot of people in this blog that are clueless about marijuana. Explore the history of marijuana and how it became illegal in the first place and you should agree that it is about government control. In addition, cigarettes smoking kill about 400,000 people a year in the US. This is more that all the drugs, alcohol, suicide, homicides put together. When different states increase the tax and want to decrease where people want to smoke then everyone complains about their rights being violated. What about peoples rights to use marijuana provided they are within the law (i.e. not operating equipment ect... the same as alcohol). Another argument is the amount of money tax payers spend on housing non-violent pot users in the prisons throughout the US. Now the non-violent pot user has a felony that prevents him from getting good work. In addition, he has been with hard core criminals for the past couple of years learning how to become a hard core criminal. How has the war on marijuana helped us as a people? Let's get real here. The people that want to use pot are using it regardless of the law so I do not think legalizing pot is going to cause an instant land of pot heads. it is going to probably create less pot heads from removing the mystery from it. Also, our prisons and jails will be less crowded. One more point; why do people argue that pot is bad for people so it should not be legalized? Why should the government have the right to tell me what I can and can not do to my body? And frankly they really do not even care and this is demonstrated by their lack of trying to end cigarette smoking. Take the power back and quit letting people tell you what is good and not good for you!!! Live your life, not everyone else's!!!

Drug and alcohol counselor in Florida

I find it amazing that some people are still, in 2009, so naive about marijuana. Do you really believe it is a good idea to spend money busting people who smoke pot? If you do, then I suggest that we use your tax dollars that way and we can use my tax dollars in the classroom where it will benefit the children of the state. Tell me, the people who call themselves dinosaurs, do you drink alcohol and smoke tobacco? And do you really believe that you do that because those things are safer than pot? Or do you understand that you do that because you have been convinced by a huge lobby that alcohol and tobacco is okay. Silly, silly dinosaurs. Yeah, Massachusetts.

to quinzee--If Marijuana is a so-called "gateway drug, then isn't it true that tobacco cigarettes could be the "actual gateway drug'? After all, everybody who has done the hard drugs (heroin, crack cocaine, etc) has at one time smoked a cigarette.
You mentioned that people will be better off walking around with pot in their pockets than a pack of cigarettes, because of the legal ramifications. As sarcastic as you were trying to be, it IS true that a person is better off with a bag of pot. Tobacco is 100 times more harmful than marijuana, as far as smoke inhalation health concerns.
You have a negative outlook on marijuana because society has created that negative outlook in order for naive people to believe in keeping it illegal.

Congratulations Massachusetts!

Anyone notice that all the comments in opposition to the legislation come from people with little or no experience with drugs and marijuana, or limited understanding of the legislation itself. I'm talking about you Mr. "Overdoses are common," Mr. "Crossing the yellow line," Mr. "I'm worried about getting a contact high."
You're connections are big pushes, slippery slopes. Not necessarily wrong, but they only apply in a few extreme cases. You need to do some research.
"Its not a war on drugs, its a war on personal freedom" Bill Hicks
Congratulations Boston making baby steps toward a brighter future.

Ok people seriously...

Lets face the facts... Decriminalizing marijuana is a great start. I'm sorry, but possessing a simple herb that makes you feel buzzed is not a crime. If you possess it, you spent your money on it, and you are carrying it in your pocket... WHO ARE YOU HURTING? It's crazy to read some of these comments from these right-wing fascists... talking about oh its going to destroy our youth... are you out of your minds? You're government has brain-washed you into thinking that something like Marijuana is going to lead to you being a dead-beat junkie. Do your own research... there is nothing bad about marijuana. It only became illegal in the first place because right-wing morons grouped it in the same category as cocaine and heroine. Marijuana is harmless, just like gay marriage and everything else. Lets focus on our economic problems, our foreign policy and our healthcare crisis instead of putting stoners in jail... they dont belong there. Once again great job MS... it's about time to restore democracy to the United States. This is one step closer!

thank you MA voters. i have read the other comments by people on this site saying that they are going to get high because marijuana is in the air? are you kidding me? anyone who thinks our kids would be better off with criminal records and jail time is just plain ill-informed.
by reading what some people have posted, it is abundantly clear that they are ignorant, have no personal experiences regarding the issue, and are just spewing hatred as well as age-old fallacies.
the fact that you go around saying what other people should do or not do in their free time instead of just worrying about your own life is maddening. controlling everyone's behavior is called tyranny. and if you remember, the desire for freedom is the reason for this country in the first place.
lastly, please take a course in economics. making drugs illegal does not stop people from using them, it only gives criminals a black market to sell them. you don't see street gangs selling bootleg cigarettes do you? but you can bet your ass they would, and make a lot of money, if they were illegal. so please, grow up people, and more importantly, worry about yourself.

Very nice site!