VOTE NO ON QUESTION 2

Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis and District Attorney Daniel ConleyUrge ‘No’ on Question 2
Today Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis and Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley join together to encourage residents to vote ‘No’ on Question 2. The Boston Police Department and the Suffolk Count District Attorney’s Office strongly oppose the decriminalization of possession for one ounce or less of marijuana.
The reality is the decriminalization of possession for one ounce or less of marijuana would empower drug dealing and endanger our community. Question 2 represents a step backward for poor, minority and urban communities. The fact is if drug possession is treated like a traffic violation, there will be an increase in marijuana use and sales in our community, predominantly neighborhoods that are already struggling with drugs and crime.
The myth is that one ounce or less is an insignificant amount of marijuana. An ounce of marijuana can sell on the street for anywhere from $300 to $600. An ounce is a lot of marijuana and can total 50 to 60 individual joints. That amount can easily be used for distribution and is not considered insignificant to law enforcement.
Police Commissioner Davis stated, “Drug use, drug abuse, and drug sales are synonymous with other types of criminal activity. Where you find drug dealers, you also find guns and violence. Question Two gives those dealers a loophole to enterprise while punishing the neighborhoods where they’re going to do business.”
District Attorney Conley said, \”An ounce of marijuana represents up to 60 individual sales. At 10 dollars apiece, those retail-ready packages are affordable to any teenager with an allowance. Question 2 amounts to a business plan for drug dealers who see our kids as a growth market.\”
Across the state, a wide range of educators, politicians and other community leaders have joined together in opposition to Question 2, including Governor Deval Patrick, Attorney General Martha Coakley, U.S. Senator John Kerry, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, MADD, SADD, Boston TenPoint Coalition, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents and many others. Major newspapers throughout the Commonwealth, including the Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Worcester Telegram also oppose the measure.
If passed, Question 2 would make possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana – with a street value of $600 – a civil violation punishable with a small fine, providing drug dealers a ready-made business plan for the retailing of drugs without the threat of criminal prosecution. An initiative The Economist magazine called the most radical marijuana ballot proposal in the nation, Question 2 does nothing more than protect criminals at the expense and safety of law-abiding citizens.
Below are photos that include one ounce of marijuana and also firearms recovered as a result of recent marijuana busts.