I have been reading, with great interest, the reaction to the new marijuana law that has been enacted in Massachusetts. If you have been following this, and since it effects all of us in one way or another, you should. As you know, the voters in Massachusetts voted to decriminalize posession of a small amount of marijuana (less than an ounce) for personnal use. Police chiefs and towns throughout the Commonwealth have been very vocal about how and why this was a bad decision by the people and how it would be unenforceable, police officers would be unsure what to do with anyone they caught. Additionally, one of the main comments from law enforcement personnel was the it would lead to increased use of other drugs.
Now we have responses from local (Auburn and Worcester) authorities about how they will manage the new law. The Auburn News ran an article discribing the new law and the Auburn Chief”s reaction to the law and how he anticipates the town will react to the new requirements. Additionally, the Worcester Telegram and Gazette has been running a series of articles about what Worcester is planning to do about the new regulations. Your job is to research the reaction of the local authorities and add your input to it. You need to decide whether or not the authorities are acting in the best interest of the public, following the will of the people, or acting in their own interest. Why do they believe what they do and how do they justify it. What do you think? Based upon your readings from the text and your own knowledge, what do you think is the right thing to do?
This will take you a little time. This is due on Friday the 16th. Read the material and be sure to cite the articles you use to support your ideas. See you Tomorrow.
January 15, 2009 at 10:25 pm
People are asking them self’s was it a good idea to make marijuana legal. In my opinion I think it was a really good idea. Not because I can smoke it and get away with, but because in future I can get a job that I want and mistakes that I made as kid are not going to hurt me as much as if the law would sat the same. Some police officers are arguing that 1 ounce of marijuana is too much. “An ounce is about 60 joints. That’s too large an amount. This law was ill-conceived, and not thought out at all. All of these issues were not addressed — and we’re stuck with it now.”” This law can still be changed, on how much ounces of marijuanasingle person could posses. Chief Roddy said that because of making the marijuana legal many of the teacher or buss drivers are going to smoke weed “A section specifically dealing with marijuana use by municipal employees, including police officers, advises police departments to consult with lawyers “before taking employment action against an employee with respect to the possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.”” If a person drives over an influence is going to be consider drunk and driving. “Since the case is ongoing, Lt. Anderson would not speak specifically about Mr. Hernandez’s arrest but, he said, there are many tragedies on the roadways due to impaired drivers. “The court will make their determination in this case,” he said.” SO YOU CAN SMOKE A BLUNT AND DRIVE IS AGAINST THE LAW. I think that’s a right move because we don’t want people to abuse the law. Police is doing their thing they are adjusting to the new law at the same time as we are. They will make couple of the bead calls, but guess what it happens and no body is perfect other than GOD.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20090102/NEWS/901020613
http://www.telegram.com/article/20090106/NEWS/901060392/1004/NEWSSEVEN04
http://wtedit.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081230/NEWS/812300582&NoCache=1
January 19, 2009 at 10:58 pm
yup
January 20, 2009 at 11:40 am
Mr. Flynn the reason my blog is late is because i lost power at my house.
anyways through the readings and the talks we had in school i believe that firstly the police force should become organized in everything that needs to be done with the offenses of weed. secondly after they are organized anyone caught with weed should be fined and then the weed should be confiscated and destroyed.