[420 Girl]

Voters at the special Town Meeting last Wednesday approved a bylaw police hope will deter the use of small amounts of marijuana in public. Putting more teeth into the state’s new law, passed in November, that decriminalizes the possession of an ounce or less of marijuana, voters adopted the more stringent local ordinance with a 38-25 vote.

“It used to be arrestable if you were caught in possession of marijuana and you would have a criminal record,” said Det. Sgt. Bill McGrath.

Under the state law, possession of an ounce or less of marijuana is no longer criminal, but police could issue a civil citation with a $100 fine. The town’s stronger bylaw calls for a $300 fine.

Although Massachusetts voters, through a referendum, allowed for the looser rules on possession of small amounts of marijuana and THC - an active ingredient in the drug - police Chief James Anderson said the state law also included a provision “allowing cities and towns to enact ordinances or bylaws prohibiting or regulating the consumption of marijuana or THC in public.”

“I just felt, as the chief of Wrentham, it was in the best interest of the community at least to have that option,” Anderson said.

He said his hope is that the stronger town bylaw will deter someone from, for example, “on a Sunday evening, on the town common when they’re having a concert, lighting up a joint, or someone going to the town beach next to a family and lighting up. Or even lighting up down at the Little League fields.”

“Hopefully somebody will think twice before lighting up,” said Anderson, noting that police have issued four citations since the state law was passed.

Wrentham is not alone in adopting more stringent rules. Many other towns have done the same, or have plans to do so. Locally, Bellingham Town Meeting in May approved a local marijuana ordinance. Medway did the same.

Bellingham Police Chief Gerald Daigle pointed out at the May 31 Town Meeting in his town “it is still not a criminal offense, but it allows the town to up the ante for public smoking. Many towns are doing it. We’re not reinventing the wheel.”

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