Will you publicly support decriminalizing marijuana?

Arise is looking for individuals and organizations in Western Massachusetts who would be willing to support publicly this November's ballot Question Two, decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana. Any takers?

If only everyone who has smoked or currently smokes would come out and say so. I won't out them, but I've smoked with more well-known and well-respected residents of this city than you can shake a stick at.

Unfortunately, many people are in professions where they would be instantly fired if they admitted they have smoked or do smoke marijuana. But how about publicly agreeing that a civil fine is better than a criminal record for those in possession of less than an ounce of marijuana?

If you're willing to stand with us, you can call Arise at 413-734-4948.

From the Marijuana Policy Project:

Opponents of Massachusetts' marijuana decriminalization ballot initiative just can't stop lying.

Here are some the lies they're flooding the media with, in a cynical attempt to scare voters into defeating the measure on November 4:

• Marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol or tobacco — because tobacco takes a long time to kill you and alcohol has health benefits. (Yes, you read that right.) That's according to Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter.

And here are four gems from the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association:

• “By empowering drug dealers with decriminalization of marijuana, we would be empowering them to continue their violent ways: carrying and brandishing weapons; ripping off kids who get in over their heads; engaging in bloody turf wars; and indiscriminately assaulting or murdering when things don't go the way they want.”
• “Marijuana arrests are strongly associated with violent crime — dangerous criminals who make the wrong choice time and time again.” (In reality, research shows unmistakably that marijuana — unlike alcohol — is almost never the cause of aggression or violence.)
• “Very few arrests involving marijuana charges are for simple possession.” (In reality, according to FBI statistics, a full 89% of marijuana arrests are for simple possession.)
• The initiative “will allow drug dealers to operate with impunity and make it easier for them to do business with your children.”