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PPQ: 2004 Plan
Massachusetts Ballot November 2004
DPFMA Sponsored Public Policy Questions (PPQs)
Strategic Plan and Deadlines
Dates to Remember
April 20, 2004 ‹ Secretary of the Commonwealth has petition forms ready for the public.
July 7, 2004 ‹ Petitions must be submitted to local registrars for certification. Petitions can be submitted at any time, our troops will certify as they go.
August 4, 2004 ‹ Petitions must be filed with the Secretary by the requisite number of voters according to the district.
November 2, 2004 ‹ State Election Day
PPQ Language
Medical Marijuana
Shall the State Representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would allow seriously ill patients, with their doctor's written recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for their personal medical use?
Marijuana Decriminalization
Shall the State Representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would make possession of less than one ounce of marijuana a civil violation, subject to a maximum fine of $100 and not subject to any criminal penalties?
Diversion to Treatment
Shall the State Representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would place first- and second-time low-level drug offenders on probation with the appropriate level of treatment services rather then sending them to jail?
Districts
1) Rep. Anne Paulsen ‹ 24th Middlesex
Consisting of precincts 2 & 4 of Arlington, precinct 3 of ward 10, precincts 1, 2, and 3 of ward 11 in Cambridge and the town of Belmont.
PPQ: Medical Marijuana
2) Rep. Garret Bradley ‹ 3rd Plymouth
Consisting of precinct 3 of Scituate and the towns of Cohasset, Hingham and Hull.
PPQ: Marijuana Decriminalization
3) Rep. Harold Naughton ‹ 12th Worcester
Consisting of precinct 2 of Sterling, precinct 2 of Lancaster and the towns of Boylston, Clinton and Northborough.
PPQ: Marijuana Decriminalization
4) Rep. Mark Carron ‹ 6th Worchester
Consisting of precinct 2 of Oxford, precincts 1 & 4 of Spencer and the towns of Charlton, East Brookfield and Southbridge.
PPQ: Marijuana Decriminalization
5) Rep. Lewis Evangelids ‹ 1st Worchester
Consisting of precinct 1 of Sterling and the towns of Holden, Hubbardston, Oakham, Princeton, Rutland, and Westminster.
PPQ: Marijuana Decriminalization
6) Sen. Richard Moore ‹ Worchester and Norfolk
Consisting of the towns:
Blackstone, Douglas, Dudley, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millville, Northbridge, Oxford, Southbridge, Sutton, Uxbridge, Webster, Bellingham
PPQ: Medical Marijuana
7) Rep. Gale D. Candaras ‹ 12th Hampden
Consisting of precincts 1 & 2 East Longmeadow, precincts D, F and H of ward 6, precincts B, C, D, E, F and G of ward 7 Springfield, and the town of Wilbraham.
PPQ: Treatment Diversion
8) Rep. Thomas M. Pertolati ‹ 7th Hampden
Consisting of precinct B of ward 6 Chicopee, precincts E, F and G of ward 8 Springfield, precincts B and C Belchertown and the town of Ludlow.
PPQ: Treatment Diversion
Possible Additional Districts
9) Rep. William Galvin ‹ 6th Norfolk
Consisting of precincts 1, 5, 7 & 8 of Stoughton and the towns of Avon and Canton.
PPQ: Medical Marijuana
10) Rep. Kathleen Teahan ‹ 7th Plymouth
Consisting of the towns:
PPQ: Medical Marijuana
11) Rep. Susan Gifford ‹ 2nd Plymouth
Consisting of precincts 1, 2 & 3 of Bourne and the towns of Carver and Wareham.
PPQ: Medical Marijuana
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In 2002, the Bush administration spent more than $18.822 billion on the "War on Drugs."
The United States has locked up nearly a half a million people for non-violent drug offenses. We now have the largest prison population in the world.
In 2000, Massachusetts had the highest reported rate of illegal drug use in the nation. In 2001, there were over 14,000 adult drug arrests in Massachusetts, of which nearly 75% were for possession.
In 1999, minorities, who use & sell drugs at similar or lower rates than whites and who represent less than 20% of the state population, made up 54% of all state drug convictions, 80% of all mandatory drug convictions, and in Suffolk County, 89% of all school-zone convictions (imposing a mandatory minimum sentence of two years).
Research shows that decriminalizing marijuana in Massachusetts would save the state at least $24.3 million in law enforcement resources and would not lead to an increase in marijuana use.
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