They protested too much
Sep. 19th, 2009 08:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dsrtaoLast year Massachusetts voters passed a law by referendum: possession of less than an ounce of marijuana became a civil violation with a $100 fine rather than a criminal offense with up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.
The police and attorneys general said that this was an awful, horrible thing, and that they didn't have a way to enforce such a law now that they could not arrest the miscreants. Also, their citation books didn't have the proper forms.
Well, today was a pro-marijuana rally on the Boston Common -- the 20th annual Boston Freedom Rally. (I didn't go. Not my thing.) In 2006, 53 arrests were made. This year? 3 arrests for possession with intent to distribute, and more than 100 civil tickets.
I would call that a net win -- $10,000 in fines versus 50 people in jail at taxpayer expense.
The police and attorneys general said that this was an awful, horrible thing, and that they didn't have a way to enforce such a law now that they could not arrest the miscreants. Also, their citation books didn't have the proper forms.
Well, today was a pro-marijuana rally on the Boston Common -- the 20th annual Boston Freedom Rally. (I didn't go. Not my thing.) In 2006, 53 arrests were made. This year? 3 arrests for possession with intent to distribute, and more than 100 civil tickets.
I would call that a net win -- $10,000 in fines versus 50 people in jail at taxpayer expense.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-20 10:20 am (UTC)Many people have noted that if California were to just *tax* pot, they'd solve their budget issues in one go.