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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 - Hampshire 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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Hampshire County Results
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City/Town Ward Pct Blanks Total Votes Cast
Totals
56,156
22,240
1,642 80,038
Amherst More »
 
10,357
2,230
350
12,937
Belchertown More »
 
5,086
2,525
122
7,733
Chesterfield
 
537
190
9
736
Cummington
 
405
126
10
541
Easthampton More »
 
6,155
2,631
143
8,929
Goshen
 
412
195
5
612
Granby
 
2,204
1,319
61
3,584
Hadley
 
2,000
1,024
79
3,103
Hatfield
 
1,333
770
19
2,122
Huntington
 
775
358
10
1,143
Middlefield
 
213
83
4
300
Northampton More »
 
12,556
3,409
376
16,341
Pelham
 
709
172
16
897
Plainfield
 
298
93
4
395
S. Hadley More »
 
5,578
3,375
157
9,110
Southampton
 
2,114
1,276
38
3,428
Ware More »
 
2,840
1,530
185
4,555
Westhampton
 
739
357
18
1,114
Williamsburg
 
1,302
372
26
1,700
Worthington
 
543
205
10
758
County Totals
56,156
22,240
1,642 80,038