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Summary of Question 2
This proposed law would replace the criminal penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana with a new system of civil penalties, to be enforced by issuing citations, and would exclude information regarding this civil offense from the state's criminal record information system. Offenders age 18 or older would be subject to forfeiture of the marijuana plus a civil penalty of $100. Offenders under the age of 18 would be subject to the same forfeiture and, if they complete a drug awareness program within one year of the offense, the same $100 penalty. Offenders under 18 and their parents or legal guardian would be notified of the offense and the option for the offender to complete a drug awareness program developed by the state Department of Youth Services. Such programs would include ten hours of community service and at least four hours of instruction or group discussion concerning the use and abuse of marijuana and other drugs and emphasizing early detection and prevention of substance abuse. The penalty for offenders under 18 who fail to complete such a program within one year could be increased to as much as $1,000, unless the offender showed an inability to pay, an inability to participate in such a program, or the unavailability of such a program. Such an offender's parents could also be held liable for the increased penalty. Failure by an offender under 17 to complete such a program could also be a basis for a delinquency proceeding. The proposed law would define possession of one ounce or less of marijuana as including possession of one ounce or less of tetrahydrocannibinol ("THC"), or having metabolized products of marijuana or THC in one's body. Under the proposed law, possessing an ounce or less of marijuana could not be grounds for state or local government entities imposing any other penalty, sanction, or disqualification, such as denying student financial aid, public housing, public financial assistance including unemployment benefits, the right to operate a motor vehicle, or the opportunity to serve as a foster or adoptive parent. The proposed law would allow local ordinances or bylaws that prohibit the public use of marijuana, and would not affect existing laws, practices, or policies concerning operating a motor vehicle or taking other actions while under the influence of marijuana, unlawful possession of prescription forms of marijuana, or selling, manufacturing, or trafficking in marijuana. The money received from the new civil penalties would go to the city or town where the offense occurred.

2008 - Franklin County - Question 2Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 6, 2008?

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Franklin County Results
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City/Town Ward Pct Blanks Total Votes Cast
Totals
26,621
11,497
756 38,874
Ashfield
 
841
266
29
1,136
Bernardston
 
745
427
73
1,245
Buckland
 
728
318
32
1,078
Charlemont
 
477
206
11
694
Colrain
 
634
296
13
943
Conway
 
961
277
20
1,258
Deerfield
 
2,016
1,014
45
3,075
Erving
 
496
294
16
806
Gill
 
600
310
9
919
Greenfield More »
 
5,786
2,603
182
8,571
Hawley
 
126
49
1
176
Heath
 
305
131
8
444
Leverett
 
991
243
22
1,256
Leyden
 
316
151
8
475
Monroe
 
37
22
1
60
Montague More »
 
2,943
1,369
73
4,385
New Salem
 
430
178
10
618
Northfield
 
1,093
604
48
1,745
Orange More »
 
2,224
1,109
54
3,387
Rowe
 
158
100
6
264
Shelburne
 
859
322
31
1,212
Shutesbury
 
1,027
195
10
1,232
Sunderland
 
1,381
477
22
1,880
Warwick
 
298
142
13
453
Wendell
 
486
75
7
568
Whately
 
663
319
12
994
County Totals
26,621
11,497
756 38,874