Mass. Police Carrying Scales to Weigh Pot
By admin at 27 January, 2009, 5:38 pm
Earlier this month a new law took effect in Massachusetts which decriminalized marijuana and made possession of less than an ounce of pot punishable by a civil fine of $100. In order to make sure an ounce is really an ounce, some police in the state will be carrying digital scales in their cruisers.
Police in Hingham, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston, told the Daily News Tribune they have imposed the civil fine for less than an ounce of marijuana to five individuals since the law took effect on January 2nd.
They say these numbers are above average, and the new law is the reason.
“Many people think the vote made possession of marijuana legal so we are seeing people more brazen than ever smoking pot,” said police spokesman Lieutenant Michael Peraino.
Peraino told the newspaper that it is often possible to tell the amount of marijuana by sight, but says the new law has many pot dealers selling amounts just under an ounce - which can make about 40 to 50 joints.
The distribution and sale of less than an ounce of marijuana is still a criminal offence in the state.
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