On Nov. 4, 2008 Massachusetts voters passed Question 2, which decriminalizes small amounts of ma*****na, with 65 percent of the vote. Approval of the ballot question made Massachusetts the 12th state to decriminalize possession of small amounts of ma*****na. The new law approved by the voters decriminalized the possession of an ounce or less of ma*****na. Anyone 18+ caught with less than an ounce would be issued a $100 ticket and would forfeit the ma*****na. It will not show up in future background checks for employment, or applications for permits and licenses. Those under age 18 would be required to go through drug and alcohol counseling; a failure to do so would carry a $1,000 fine. City____________________Precincts________No_________Yes
Agawam_________________8 of 8_______5,654______8,577
Blandford_______________ 1 of 1_________254_______ 437
Brimfield________________ 1 of 1________ 674_____ 1,330
Chester_________________ 1 of 1_________243_______ 461
Chicopee______________ 26 of 26______8,864____ 13,995
East Longmeadow_______ 4 of 4_______3,498______4,943
Granville________________ 1 of 1_________286_______ 569
Hampden_______________ 1 of 1_______1,174______1,742
Holland_________________ 1 of 1_________382_______ 944
Holyoke________________14 of 14______5,470_____ 9,066
Longmeadow____________5 of 5_______ 3,340_____ 6,119
Ludlow__________________6 of 6_______ 3,835_____ 5,793
Monson_________________3 of 3_______ 1,428_____ 2,944
Montgomery____________ 1 of 1_________ 166_______344
Palmer__________________4 of 4________2,160_____3,632
Russell__________________1 of 1__________281______ 527
Southwick_______________3 of 3________1,765_____3,038
Springfield_____________64 of 64_____ 15,456___ 30,380
Tolland_________________ 1 of 1___________95______ 177
Wales___________________ 1 of 1_________ 267______ 736
West Springfield_________ 8 of 8________4,733____ 7,291
Westfield_______________12 of 12_______6,658___10,598
Wilbraham_______________4 of 4________3,438____ 4,943
-----------------------------------------------------
On Nov. 2, 2010 voters in 73 Massachusetts cities and towns voted on a number of Public Policy Questions (PPQs) related to medical ma*****na and ma*****na legalization. Those towns and cities make up 18 state representative districts and account for about 12% of the state population. Under Massachusetts law, citizens can petition to put PPQs on the ballot. The non-binding votes are a signal to legislators of voter sentiment on a given issue in the district.
*Shall the State Representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would allow patients, with their doctor's written recommendation, to possess, grow, and purchase ma*****na for medical use?*
-1st Hampden State Representative District Rep. Todd Smola (R)-
Town____________No________Yes________Total Votes_______Yes %
Brimfield________668_______822___________1,490_________55.2%
Holland_________347_______548_____________895_________61.2%
Palmer________1,817_____ 2,116__________ 3,933_________53.8%
Sturbridge____1,568______2,107__________ 3,675_________57.3%
Wales__________ 250_______ 426____________ 676_________63.0%
Ware___________ 921_____ 1,099__________ 2,020_________54.4%
Warren_________ 645_______ 876__________ 1,521_________57.6%
-----------------------------------------------------
The following is a list of towns in Hampden County that have increased the $100 ticket amount for an adult in possession of an ounce or less of ma*****na in Massachusetts since 2008. (Please note this list may be incomplete and if you know of a towns not included let us know). Chicopee - $300
Holyoke - $300
Ludlow - $300
Palmer - $300
Springfield - $100 - $300
West Springfield - $150-$300
-----------------------------------------------------
