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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 - Worcester 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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Worcester County Results
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City/Town Ward Pct Blanks Total Votes Cast
Totals
231,271
123,331
11,446 366,048
Ashburnham
 
2,254
1,105
31
3,390
Athol More »
 
3,211
1,490
70
4,771
Auburn More »
 
5,685
3,125
140
8,950
Barre More »
 
1,797
857
55
2,709
Berlin
 
1,077
554
22
1,653
Blackstone More »
 
2,757
1,371
142
4,270
Bolton
 
1,918
937
40
2,895
Boylston
 
1,787
834
28
2,649
Brookfield
 
1,175
564
31
1,770
Charlton More »
 
4,244
2,151
91
6,486
Clinton More »
 
4,019
2,276
211
6,506
Douglas More »
 
2,847
1,352
123
4,322
Dudley More »
 
3,283
1,699
83
5,065
E. Brookfield
 
728
437
19
1,184
Fitchburg More »
 
8,412
5,611
409
14,432
Gardner More »
 
5,251
3,022
155
8,428
Grafton More »
 
5,683
3,179
165
9,027
Hardwick
 
959
419
37
1,415
Harvard
 
2,482
916
91
3,489
Holden More »
 
6,575
3,771
119
10,465
Hopedale
 
2,181
1,116
97
3,394
Hubbardston
 
1,697
828
31
2,556
Lancaster More »
 
2,324
1,303
47
3,674
Leicester More »
 
3,588
1,811
119
5,518
Leominster More »
 
10,788
7,043
521
18,352
Lunenburg More »
 
3,546
2,117
93
5,756
Mendon
 
2,073
1,138
37
3,248
Milford More »
 
7,685
4,157
552
12,394
Millbury More »
 
4,178
2,216
275
6,669
Millville
 
1,004
501
42
1,547
New Braintree
 
387
159
8
554
N. Brookfield
 
1,567
797
34
2,398
Northborough More »
 
5,387
2,646
116
8,149
Northbridge More »
 
4,515
2,919
181
7,615
Oakham
 
783
334
13
1,130
Oxford More »
 
4,330
2,075
106
6,511
Paxton
 
1,545
944
107
2,596
Petersham
 
558
250
15
823
Phillipston
 
624
333
7
964
Princeton
 
1,486
716
39
2,241
Royalston More »
 
502
182
11
695
Rutland More »
 
2,647
1,529
30
4,206
Shrewsbury More »
 
11,141
6,277
411
17,829
Southborough More »
 
3,771
1,879
82
5,732
Southbridge More »
 
4,281
2,210
553
7,044
Spencer More »
 
3,749
1,816
104
5,669
Sterling More »
 
2,974
1,676
64
4,714
Sturbridge More »
 
3,345
1,803
60
5,208
Sutton More »
 
3,340
1,767
167
5,274
Templeton More »
 
2,269
1,433
50
3,752
Upton
 
2,791
1,300
44
4,135
Uxbridge More »
 
4,515
2,476
243
7,234
Warren More »
 
1,503
738
102
2,343
Webster More »
 
4,365
2,130
210
6,705
W. Boylston More »
 
2,516
1,444
54
4,014
W. Brookfield
 
1,307
664
62
2,033
Westborough More »
 
5,932
2,888
243
9,063
Westminster More »
 
2,610
1,637
55
4,302
Winchendon More »
 
2,870
1,371
82
4,323
Worcester More »
 
38,453
19,038
4,317
61,808
County Totals
231,271
123,331
11,446 366,048