First $100 ticket for Marijuana

[Tyen]

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Sat, Jan 03, 2009- A 29-year-old Holyoke man became the first person in Springfield, and possibly the state, fined for marijuana possession under the state's decriminalization law that went into effect Friday, police said.

Police found Burgos with 119 rocks of crack cocaine and 45 bags of heroin in his car, Delaney said. And, when detectives found a small amount of marijuana in the man's pocket - perhaps enough for two rolled cigarettes, they also wrote a $100 citation, the sergeant added.

They used a standard citation book that Springfield, Mass. police use to write tickets for motor vehicle violations, littering or other city ordinance violations, he said.

High Times > MASS: 1st Fine Given for Marijuana

[Quineloe]

Isn't he going to prison for many years for the crack and H anyways?

[Eduardo]

Sure but the glorious point is that he is NOT going to prison for having a little bit of HERB!!!!

Seriously awesome. Every damned state should be doing this and the FEDS can shove their noses up their own god damned asses.

the new law is under 1 oz. face civil citation instead of arrest

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Tyen]

Too bad you didn't read this article.

Police Balk at Ticketing Marijuana Offenders

More fundamentally, they complain that officers have no way of determining the identity of people they stop on the street for smoking marijuana. Before the law was changed, officers could arrest them, or threaten them with arrest to force them to show identification. Now, they say they cannot force users to show IDs, and cannot arrest them if they refuse to identify themselves. And they say there is no penalty if a marijuana user gives a false name to a police officer.

"If the Legislature enacts some changes, we'll be happy to do it in the future, but as it stands now we're not going to be issuing civil citations," he said. If an officer spots someone smoking marijuana, he said, "We will confiscate it and the person will be sent on their way."

Many complain that their current citation books lack a check-off box for marijuana possession and they have yet to receive updated ticket books

[Zhaun's_Shade]

Was I the only one expecting this thread to contain a pic of Tyen proudly displaying his first ticket for pot?

[Vim]

It would be interesting to see how would a nationwide adoption of said decriminalization law would affect...

I don't think we're mature enough for such leniency in Puerto Rico, to be quite honest. We already have a relaxed attitude towards most laws...

[AladainAF]

I still can't wait until all drugs are legalized, so this guy would be sent on his merry way.

[Sharmai]

The sheer amount of money to be made from the legalization of marijuana is insane. And that's only counting people smoking it. There are many other practical uses for marijuana like making textiles where it could generate significant amounts of cash.

Also all those farmers not producing corn because we have to much could start producing marijuana instead we sure have enough land for it.

The sad part is I don't smoke the stuff but I can see a cash cow like this from a mile away.

[Lenaldo]

Originally Posted by Sharmai

The sheer amount of money to be made from the legalization of marijuana is insane. And that's only counting people smoking it. There are many other practical uses for marijuana like making textiles where it could generate significant amounts of cash.

Also all those farmers not producing corn because we have to much could start producing marijuana instead we sure have enough land for it.

The sad part is I don't smoke the stuff but I can see a cash cow like this from a mile away.

While I obviously agree legalizing marijuana would increase revenue you also have tot ake into account the loss from tabacco sales going down. If the loss wasn't as significant as I think it would be; I doubt tobacco lobbys would spedn so much money to make sure pot stays illegal.

[GuyJantica]

Originally Posted by Lenaldo

While I obviously agree legalizing marijuana would increase revenue you also have tot ake into account the loss from tabacco sales going down. If the loss wasn't as significant as I think it would be; I doubt tobacco lobbys would spedn so much money to make sure pot stays illegal.

I'm not sure tobacco sales would go down very dramatically. Who only smokes cigarettes because they "can't" smoke pot and when made legal would make the permanent switch?

[column]

Why would tobacco sales go down because of marijuana use?

There a whole different type of product,and when I was heavily smoking I can't remember anyone that didn't smoke cigs as well. Especially after you done smoking that first joint that next cigarette tastes awesome.

Not to mention Cigarettes do almost nothing to you as far as impairing yourself for working. In fact I think tobacco use may go up,lol.


The frist step to legalizing pot will be for all states to legalize the use of medically prescribed marijuana. Then they can slowly legalize with heavy restrictions like Amsterdam has. Like you can only buy so much a day,and put all the same restrictions that alcohol and smoking has in place.

[dak]

The cops did it as a joke, they don't respect this law at all.

[Astrocreep]

we spend billions a year on enforcing drug laws and if by legalizing them that money would go bye bye and would immediately see a profit, sure there would be a lot of collateral damage at first, but eventually darwin will take over and only the careful users will be around and sending their checks to the government for their fix. although it will be ironic that the stoners will have gone from hating and protesting the MAN to being its greatest contributing supporter! my god, it will be beautiful.

[The Ancient]

I'd be curious to see the actual bottom line on cost for drug enforcement programs. They make a lot of money in "seized assets" as well.

[kedwyn]

If they tax weed too heavily it will still be a black market item its not like the illegal infrastructure of selling it would go away as it is already in place and chances are with decriminalization the punishment for selling it illegally would also most likely be a slap on the wrist. So I'm not really sold on it being a huge money maker, especially when its first allowed. Obviously depending on how its handled that could change.

Personally I could care less if they do it or not but if they do legalize it they need to hit people really hard for DUI. No more of this get 6 DUI's and still be allowed on the road bull shit.