Now, in Massachusetts, police do not have the right to pull you over for suspicion of Marijuana possession.
Massachusetts’ highest court just ruled that it is unlawful for police to pull over a car based solely on suspicion of possession of marijuana. Massachusetts has been part of the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana movement since 2008. Because of the state’s support of marijuana, it is not surprising that this decision was based on a 5-2 ruling. Proponents have even said that this will help police focus on serious crimes. That statement alone indicates that possession of marijuana is finally being recognized as a less serious crime, if one at all.
There has been much concern from drivers on both ends about someone driving “under the influence," but there seems to be a bit of confusion about what driving under the influence really entails. Some people believe that driving under the influence means anything from being on prescription pills like Xanax all the way to being incoherently drunk, with marijuana falling somewhere on that spectrum as well. People are trying to change the perception of how marijuana affects one’s capabilities. It is evident that Massachusetts believes there is no reason, or right, for a person to be pulled over for possession Marijuana, and this may be because the government believes it will not directly put anyone’s life in danger. Marijuana was initially associated with alcohol and hard drugs like LSD and Cocaine, but as the years have gone on, and new laws have been created to pave the way for marijuana legalization, marijuana is now closely associated with tobacco when it first made it’s mark on society.
Although tobacco was never fully prohibited in America, it was banned in specific jurisdictions and under certain circumstances. As time went on, people discovered that it did not impair your judgment or ability to function, and in fact was a benefit for state and federal revenue. It had also been argued that it can benefit someone, like a soldier, who is recovering mentally and/or physically from an injury. As people started colonizing and trading with other countries, tobacco became one of the most lucrative commodities. Eventually, the demand for tobacco was so high that it became necessary to supply it. Tobacco then became one of America’s stable sources of revenue. Sound familiar?
