From The Boston Globe:

“It’s no longer a crime to have one ounce or less of pot in Massachusetts. The state’s new marijuana decriminalization law, approved by voters in a November referendum, goes into effect today. Those who are caught with an [...]]]> A new law that decriminalizes marijuana goes into effect TODAY across the state of Massachusetts.

From The Boston Globe:

“It’s no longer a crime to have one ounce or less of pot in Massachusetts. The state’s new marijuana decriminalization law, approved by voters in a November referendum, goes into effect today. Those who are caught with an ounce or less would get a ticket similar to a building code citation. They could appeal the civil infraction in court within 21 days or pay a $100 fine set in the law.”

Boston.com has a great Q&A interview with Gregory I. Massing, an attorney with the state’s executive office of public safety & security, regarding the impact of this new law.

Q: Are people allowed to smoke marijuana in public now as long as it is an ounce or less?

A: The new $100 civil penalty for possession of an ounce or less of marijuana applies to smoking marijuana in public: you can’t smoke it without possessing it. Question 2 gives municipalities the option to pass ordinances or by-laws to make public use of marijuana a crime.

Q: Are people allowed to smoke or use marijuana in private?

A: The same $100 civil penalty applies to smoking or using an ounce or less of marijuana in private. Question 2 did not change the criminal laws prohibiting possession of more than an ounce of marijuana, nor did it change the laws regarding distribution of any amount of marijuana.

Q: Is it legal to buy or sell marijuana?

A: Question 2 did not change the criminal laws prohibiting the distribution, sale, trafficking, or manufacturing of marijuana, or the possession of any amount of marijuana with intent to distribute, sell, traffic, or manufacture. Someone who buys more than an ounce of marijuana can be prosecuted for possessing more than an ounce of marijuana, which is still a crime. Someone who buys an ounce or less of marijuana is subject to the new $100 civil penalty. It is possible that someone who buys any amount of marijuana could be prosecuted for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. The decision whether or not to charge conspiracy is in the discretion of the relevant police department and district attorney’s office.

Q: Do the same laws apply to minors as adults?

A: Yes, except under Question 2 there are additional provisions (including a requirement to attend a drug awareness program) for persons under 18 who possess an ounce or less of marijuana. See our web site for provisions for offenders under 18.

More excellent details [...]]]> Yes, I realize this blog is called California Cannabis. However, sometimes we need to throw the spotlight on other states across the country. A movement is building people. In Spring 2009 a key bill being introduced by Barney Frank would decriminalize possession of 3.5 ounces of marijuana or less on a federal level.

More excellent details from David Abel of the Boston Globe:

Advocates for the decriminalization of marijuana, savoring their success this week in Massachusetts, said they look forward to a day under an Obama administration and a Democrat-led Congress when it’s no longer a federal crime to possess small amounts of the drug.

They cited a bill introduced in the spring by Representative Barney Frank, which would decriminalize possession of marijuana in amounts of 3.5 ounces or less anywhere in the United States. The bill, if it became law, would end federal prosecution of such crimes, but it would not supersede state laws.

The advocates said they hope the bill would lead to hearings and spark more support from fellow lawmakers in the coming session.

“We anticipate the bill will be reintroduced fairly early in the next session,” said Keith Stroup, legal counsel and founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), which has long lobbied for the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana. “Then what we expect is that we will be able to get legislative hearings this session, and maybe a vote on the floor of the House.”

He said his organization, which helped Frank draft his bill, is looking for a sponsor in the Senate.

But Frank said in a telephone interview that he doesn’t foresee his bill passing anytime soon. The Newton Democrat said it will take a lot more time before enough of his fellow lawmakers want to take a stand on the issue.

“What needs to happen is that constituents who support this need to make more calls,” Frank said. “This is a case of people being ahead of the politicians.”

This week, Massachusetts became the 13th state in the country to decriminalize marijuana when voters approved Question 2 on the ballot, which made getting caught with less than an ounce of marijuana punishable by a civil fine of $100.

The change in the law means someone found carrying multiple joints will no longer be reported to the state’s criminal history board. The law will require those younger than age 18 to complete a drug awareness program and community service, and for those who don’t, the fine will increase to as much as $1,000.

The vote in Massachusetts follows a form of decriminalization that passed seven years ago in Nevada, where it remains a felony for anyone under age 21 to possess marijuana. The other states – Maine, New York, California, North Carolina, Oregon, Ohio, Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska – decriminalized marijuana in the 1970s, according to NORML.