Pepperell Police Praise Passage of Bylaw Prohibiting Public Consumption of Marijuana

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 978-743-0004
Email: john@jgpr.net

Pepperell Police Praise Passage of Bylaw Prohibiting Public Consumption of Marijuana

Pepperell Police Chief David Scott is praising the unanimous vote of Town Meeting, which last night approved an amendment to the town’s bylaws prohibiting the public consumption of marijuana or products containing tetrahydrocannabinol.

The proposal was brought forward by the police department and makes public consumption punishable by a $300 fine. The bylaw models measures passed by several other communities in Massachusetts, following guidelines laid out by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

“This is a quality of life issue. Without this bylaw, all a person needs is a medical marijuana registration card, and they could legally smoke marijuana next to you at a youth soccer game, a local band concert, our town fireworks display, or walking along the sidewalks in town,” Chief Scott said. “We have had for many years a town bylaw that prohibits drinking alcoholic beverages in public, which is an arrestable offense. Without this new bylaw, it would be illegal to drink in public but legal to smoke marijuana in public. It’s common sense to regulate this activity.”

The full language of the bylaw follows:

By: Police Department

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Code of the Town of Pepperell, Chapter 51 (currently blank), by adding the language listed below in “Part A” of this article and also amend the Non-Criminal Disposition of Violations of By-laws, Rules, and Regulations, Section 6, by adding the language listed below in “Part B” of this article:

Part A

PUBLIC CONSUMPTION OF MARIJUANA OR TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL

No person shall smoke, ingest, or otherwise use or consume marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinol (as defined in MGL c. 94C, § 1, as amended) while in or upon any street, sidewalk, public way, footway, passageway, stairs, bridge, park, playground, beach, recreation area, boat landing, public building, schoolhouse, school grounds, cemetery, parking lot, or any area owned by or under the control of the Town; or in or upon any bus or other passenger conveyance operated by a common carrier; or in any place accessible to the public.

This bylaw may be enforced through any lawful means in law or in equity, including, but not limited to, enforcement by criminal indictment or complaint pursuant to MGL c. 40, § 21, or by noncriminal disposition pursuant to MGL c. 40, § 21D, by any police officer. The fine for violation of this bylaw shall be $300 for each offense. Any penalty imposed under this bylaw shall be in addition to any civil penalty imposed under MGL c. 94C, § 32L.

Part B

Violation: Public Consumption of Marijuana

Enforcement:Police Department

Fine: $300

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