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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 - Essex 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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Essex County Results
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City/Town Ward Pct Blanks Total Votes Cast
Totals
218,437
126,533
11,101 356,071
Amesbury More »
 
5,832
2,585
154
8,571
Andover More »
 
11,316
6,678
350
18,344
Beverly More »
 
13,431
6,788
395
20,614
Boxford More »
 
3,194
1,727
60
4,981
Danvers More »
 
8,665
5,204
181
14,050
Essex
 
1,529
637
43
2,209
Georgetown More »
 
2,993
1,698
55
4,746
Gloucester More »
 
10,391
4,756
537
15,684
Groveland
 
2,407
1,410
50
3,867
Hamilton More »
 
2,916
1,734
78
4,728
Haverhill More »
 
17,157
9,259
722
27,138
Ipswich More »
 
5,384
2,640
143
8,167
Lawrence More »
 
7,865
8,633
3,162
19,660
Lynn More »
 
17,987
11,011
958
29,956
Lynnfield More »
 
3,848
3,040
96
6,984
Manchester-by-the-Sea
 
2,286
1,091
44
3,421
Marblehead More »
 
8,276
3,960
224
12,460
Merrimac
 
2,358
1,185
38
3,581
Methuen More »
 
12,355
7,994
760
21,109
Middleton More »
 
2,683
1,608
77
4,368
Nahant
 
1,554
703
57
2,314
Newbury More »
 
2,901
1,361
67
4,329
Newburyport More »
 
7,261
3,483
200
10,944
N. Andover More »
 
9,300
5,464
298
15,062
Peabody More »
 
14,842
10,768
831
26,441
Rockport More »
 
3,163
1,408
114
4,685
Rowley
 
2,223
1,192
34
3,449
Salem More »
 
12,645
6,159
512
19,316
Salisbury More »
 
2,779
1,364
79
4,222
Saugus More »
 
7,903
5,251
350
13,504
Swampscott More »
 
5,449
2,574
168
8,191
Topsfield
 
2,340
1,348
171
3,859
Wenham
 
1,393
903
49
2,345
W. Newbury
 
1,811
917
44
2,772
County Totals
218,437
126,533
11,101 356,071