Officials unite to fight marijuana initiative

Proponents allege campaign wrongs

Law enforcement officials statewide are uniting against a referendum question they fear will increase marijuana use among teenagers and generate more crime across the state.

The state's 11 district attorneys are unanimously opposing Question 2 and are being joined by police chiefs and some community groups, fearing it will undo years of effort to reduce drug use among teenagers. Governor Deval Patrick's administration also is opposed, according to a spokesman.

"Teenage marijuana use is down, and this is a good thing," said Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley. "This is a bad, bad message for our kids."

But supporters of Question 2, who are organized under the name Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy, are striking back. Today, they plan to announce that they have applied for criminal complaints against unnamed district attorneys for alleged campaign law violations, according to Whitney Taylor, the group's executive director.

Taylor refused to be more specific about the allegations, which will be the subject of an 11 a.m. press conference outside Edward W. Brooke Courthouse in Boston, about three hours before prosecutors and police hold their own at the State House.

Taylor said that if Question 2 passes, marijuana will still be an illegal drug. And, she said, the new approach will increase parental involvement in marijuana cases for those under 18 years old because police will be required to notify parents about the civil matter. She said those under 18 must complete drug awareness training and do 10 hours of community service.

Parents "are brought right in, and they get to focus on the young people," she said. "We do not promote or condone marijuana use."

Taylor said teenagers would benefit by the change because they would no longer have a record in the state's criminal history databases, one that could haunt them later in life when they apply for jobs.

But according to prosecutors, under current law, those arrested with an ounce or less of marijuana automatically have their case continued without a finding for six months, and if they do not violate the law, their criminal file is sealed.

"Nobody goes to jail today for simple possession of marijuana," said Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, who is listed as the treasurer for the opponents, who are using the name Coalition for Safe Streets during the campaign.

Blodgett said the criminal records are sealed and that most people who have a marijuana possession entry on their the criminal record also have more serious charges, such as gun possession.

But Taylor said the phrase "sealed record" on someone's dossier makes people more suspicious - not less - about a person's background.

Blodgett and Conley also lashed out at New York billionaire George Soros, who donated $400,000 to the group last year, according to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

That pro-Question 2 group has $152,000 on hand, according to the most recent report posted by the state. Opponents have $6,000, with the bulk of the money raised and spent so far having been provided by district attorneys, who donated about $2,000 each from their own campaign accounts, state records show.

This weekend, a pro-Question 2 group, the Massachusetts chapter of the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws, will hold its annual rally in Boston.