THE ONLY people for whom the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana in Massachusetts has proved “disorienting’’ are those in the dwindling minority who believe that possession of marijuana even in small amounts should still be criminal (“Ruling on marijuana searches leaves behind a strange odor,’’Editorial, April 25).
Afterward, questions did remain about the practical meaning of this vote, but last week’s ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court made things more clear, not less. The court stated strongly that police cannot simply ignore the will of the voters by continuing to treat possession of an ounce or less of marijuana, or other non-criminal acts, as if they provided justification for further investigation.
Criminalizing marijuana makes criminals out of ordinary people and wastes police resources. The people of Massachusetts have had enough of this, and even if some haven’t gotten the message yet, the court did.
Carol Rose
Executive director
American Civil Liberties Union of
Massachusetts
Boston
Read More: Court got message on decriminalization, Boston Globe, April 27, 2011