Pubdate: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 Source: Boston Herald (MA) Copyright: 2008 The Boston Herald, Inc Contact: http://news.bostonherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n648/a04.html Author: Whitney A. Taylor ONE CARR OVER THE LINE Howie Carr's opinion ("Sensible pot a half-baked policy, dude," July 6) is nothing but a string of untruths, stereotypes and poorly written puns. Our initiative does not legalize marijuana, nor does CSMP condone or promote its use. Marijuana remains illegal, and the penalty for personal possession of an ounce or less would become a civil penalty. The punishments for all other pot-related crimes would remain untouched. Our initiative will save Massachusetts police departments $29.5 million a year in arrest and booking costs alone - money that should be used to fight serious and violent crime. Our initiative will not increase marijuana use. And our initiative would end the arrest and creation of a CORI for 7,500 Bay Staters each year, allowing them to move forward into productive lives. Whitney A. Taylor, Campaign Manager Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy, Boston - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake