DA: I have doubts on medical pot

LYNN – Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett worries about medical marijuana, heroin abuse and whether a nearby casino might increase cases of child neglect.In a wide-ranging interview with The Daily Item’s editorial board Thursday, Blodgett also said Lynn Police had the right to enter the home of a city man who was subsequently killed during a struggle with an officer.Blodgett, who is running for a fourth, four-year term as DA but has no opposition yet, also discussed subjects ranging from the heroin epidemic to assistant district attorneys salaries.Blodgett said he remains steadfastly opposed to medical marijuana, rejecting claims that the drug is neither habit-forming nor a so-called “gateway” drug. He also said he was not convinced of the drug’s medicinal value.”When the American Medical Association and the Massachusetts Medical Society finally say that it has a medicinal value and it is important for the treatment of disease, then the debate’s over; but that hasn’t happened yet,” Blodgett said.He also said he had “concerns” about the medical marijuana industry stemming from conversations with colleagues in other areas of the country.”I see great avenues for abuse,” Blodgett said. “They’ve got problems about how it’s being dispensed, how it’s being managed, how some people are not even doctors and are giving prescriptions for everything from depression to I-broke-up-with-my-girlfriend.”Blodgett mentioned how there are currently no medical standards for prescribing marijuana, such as dosage amounts or drug potency, and raised concerns that this could lead to doctors overprescribing the drug.Blodgett also discussed the potential impact of medical marijuana on the non-using public. For instance, Blodgett said it is difficult to prosecute a charge of driving under the influence of drugs, as Essex County has only three officers trained as drug recognition experts who can evaluate a suspected stoned driver. He acknowledged, however, that the issue of outright legalization of the drug “is coming” to Massachusetts.Blodgett disputed “with every bit of (his) being” one of the popular arguments for legalization: that jails are overcrowded with people charged solely with marijuana offenses.”We are not warehousing non-violent drug offenders, even the terms I find, frankly, to be offensive,” Blodgett said, calling the argument a “total fabrication” and an “urban myth.””People who have the affliction of drug addiction on the street need help and get help and get opportunities for help. People in jail are drug dealers who are dangerous people.”Blodgett cited the county’s Drug Diversion Program as a successful way to handle non-violent drug offenders. The program allows people charged with a non-violent drug offense, and who agree to pay restitution, to receive comprehensive substance-abuse treatment to avoid prosecution. He said of 16 participants last year from Lynn, five did not complete or turned down the program, eight remain ongoing in treatment and three completed the program. “I call that a success,” Blodgett said.He described the heroin problem, however, as “stronger and more robust than ever.”The district attorney also said he supported access to Narcan, saying it gave a false sense of security to users, “but the fact is it does save lives.”But he identified education as the best deterrent.”The only real way to combat it is to have as much effort put into education at the earliest possible level as you can,” Blodgett said, although admitting, “You’ve got to scare kids not to do it.”Blodgett also said police were justified in entering the home of Denis Reynoso – despite having no warrant – before a struggle over an officer’s weapon left Reynoso dead.Blodgett said that police responded to a 911 call, met with three individuals who said they were afraid of Reynoso due to his bizarre behavior, and then were directed to a specific apartment where they observed Reynoso.”They had the ability based on threshold inquiry and observing