Changes in Massachusetts Marijuana Laws.

Most residents of Massachusetts know that marijuana laws have changed but don't seem to understand the changes. Many people think that it is now legal to possess small amounts of marijuana. This is not correct. Massachusetts has decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. However, just because possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is no longer a crime that doesn't mean that it is legal. It is still illegal to possess small amounts of marijuana. Instead of being punished by a jail sentence, possession is only punished by a fine of $100.00. This means that in Massachusetts, possession of any amount of marijuana is still illegal. An act that is punished by a fine and not by the possibility of jail is an offence and not a crime. It is comparable to a speeding ticket. It is illegal to drive faster than the speed limit and can be punished by a fine just as possession of small amounts of marijuana is punished by a fine.

Massachusetts voters voted to allow the medical use of marijuana. Under this initiative, it will be legal for people with a doctor's prescription to purchase and possess marijuana for medical use. At this time, Massachusetts has not passed regulations to allow the sale of marijuana and no facilities have been authorized to sell it. I expect that in the next year or so, that the sale of medical marijuana will start in the state. As of today, there is no lawful sales of marijuana.

These two changes in statutes have caused other changes in criminal law. The highest court in Massachusetts, the Supreme Judicial Court has issued three recent opinions interpreting marijuana laws. Two of these cases changed the way that the state will interact with people who use marijuana in Massachusetts.

Before the change in the law, the smell of marijuana or burnt marijuana was probable cause for law enforcement to search the premises. Commonly, police smelled marijuana when making motor vehicle stops. The subsequent search of a car frequently lead to an arrest for other crimes. However, possession of marijuana is not necessarily a crime. The smell of marijuana is probable cause for a police officer to believe that the offense of possession of marijuana was committed. However, an offense is not a crime and the police can't search when they believe that an offense has been committed. In the case of Commonwealth v Daniel, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court found that the smell of marijuana or burnt marijuana does not constitute probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed.

In Commonwealth v. Jackson, the court defined the crime of distribution of marijuana in light of the recent change decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana. In this case, police observed people sharing a marijuana cigarette. The passing of a joint had previously constituted the crime of distribution of a drug. The court ruled that the social sharing of small amounts of the drug was within the scope of the new law and intended to be an offense and not a crime. This ruling is a sensible interpretation of the law. If possession of less than one ounce of pot is no longer a crime, why should the sharing of a joint, without the exchange of money be a crime? The Court found that social sharing of joints is no longer a criminal act.

The third case looked at cultivation of marijuana in light of the new law. In the case of Commonwealth v. Palmer the Court held that the growing or cultivation of marijuana was still a crime even if the amount grown is less than an ounce and grown for personal use. The Court found that the new law does not contain an exception for cultivation.

Based on these three cases, it appears that in Massachusetts possession and use of less than an ounce of marijuana is an offense and not a crime. The social sharing of such small amounts of marijuana is also not a crime. However, possession of more than an ounce of marijuana, growing marijuana, and selling marijuana are still crimes in Massachusetts. The interpretation of the changes in the law have limited the ability of police to search and arrest when they find evidence of marijuana use.

The law that decriminalized marijuana has changed many legal proceedings in Massachusetts. However, possession is still illegal. In particular, the illegal use of marijuana can still be the basis for loss of custody in a divorce proceeding. An experienced Massachusetts lawyer can help advise on the changes of the new law and what has not changed in Massachusetts.