Lynn issues 19 pot fines

LYNN – Police have issued civil citations to 19 people in the nine months since voters reduced penalties associated with marijuana possession.Those numbers are based on statistics compiled in early to mid-August by police at The Item’s request. They included a citation issued Aug. 16 on Lynnfield Street and another issued Aug. 2 at Lewis Street and Stone Place to a 16-year-old Lynn resident who police spotted making a drug deal. Police issued the teenager a civil citation and confiscated a $15 packet of marijuana.Voters made Massachusetts the 12th state to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana last November when they approved a change in state law allowing police to issue $100 civil citations to someone caught with an ounce or less of the drug.Supporters of the ballot measure said its passage could reduce law enforcement costs associated with arresting marijuana users by $30 million statewide. They also hailed decriminalization as a way to keep people caught with small amounts of the drug from being saddled with a criminal record.Eleven of the 18 people issued civil citations since last December were caught with small amounts of marijuana. The other seven were issued civil fines in addition to being arrested on other charges.Question 2 prevailed despite law enforcement objections, including District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, who joined other district attorneys in warning marijuana use can lead to use of other, more potent types of drugs. Blodgett also warned prior to the question’s approval in November that marijuana currently available for sale is more potent than pot sold three decades ago.Under decriminalization, anyone under the age of 18 caught with an ounce or less of marijuana has to complete a drug awareness course or pay a $1,000 fine.Question 2’s passage also prompted action by local towns last winter and spring against marijuana use. Revere Police Chief Terence Reardon called for stricter measures aimed at verifying the identities of those caught with marijuana.”They can just say they’re Mickey Mouse,” an irate Reardon told City Council members.Marblehead officials discussed a $300 fine in May for anyone caught smoking marijuana, echoing a similar measure proposed by Swampscott Chief Ronald Madigan in February when town police had issued two civil citations to date for possession of small amounts of marijuana.Saugus Town Meeting members also debated an anti-marijuana law in May.