Foxborough Police Chief Expects Medical Marijuana to ‘Escalate Criminal Activity and Dangerous Behavior’
Foxborough Police Chief Edward O'Leary says despite the recent approval of medical marijuana in Massachusetts he will not be an advocate for a medical marijuana facility coming to Foxborough.
Prior to November’s election, Foxborough Police Chief Edward O'Leary wrote a Letter to the Editor in the Foxboro Reporter as a citizen asking the town to join him in voting “No” on Question 3, which would "eliminate state criminal and civil penalties for the medical use of marijuana by qualifying patients.”
“In states that have allowed the creative fiction of ‘medical marijuana,’ there has been an increase of drug use by teenagers, and an escalation of violent crimes in neighborhoods with dispensing stations,” O’Leary wrote in his letter to the Reporter. … “People would be violating Federal Law, as marijuana is considered an illegal drug at that level. In states that have allowed the hoax, healthy individuals have been found with ‘marijuana cards,’ selling their ‘prescriptions’ on the street.”
O’Leary’s opinion proved to be the minority on Election Day as voters in the Commonwealth overwhelmingly approved Question 3. In Foxborough, 5,689 voters approved Question 3 while 3,737 opposed.
Despite those results, O’Leary remains opposed to the concept of medical marijuana.
“I don’t believe medical marijuana is a panacea,” O’Leary said. “The decriminalization process that was brought about by the ballot initiative in 2009 has led to an increase in the number of teenagers in our community that are now using marijuana. I think it has led to a growth in the overall use of marijuana within the Commonwealth.”
And the passing of Question 3 in the Commonwealth will only continue that growth, according to O’Leary.
“I perceive - based on what I’ve learned about the California situation - that there will be an escalation in both criminal activity and dangerous behaviors caused by this but it’s the law,” O’Leary said.
While O’Leary respects the law, he expressed no interest in seeing a medical marijuana facility open in Foxborough.
“I certainly would not be an advocate of one of the 35 licensed premises in our community,” O’Leary said. “Again, based on what I learned from looking at the California situation … I think it is more appropriate in other areas than Foxborough.”
As for what the newly passed law means for the town and its law enforcement? O’Leary said that remains to be seen.
“Too early to say,” he said.
On Tuesday, Foxborough’s Board of Selectmen discussed a request from neighboring Walpole to send a letter to the town’s legislative delegation seeking support to pass legislation that would delay the effective date of medical marijuana.
“Basically what Walpole is saying from the letter is they do not have time to look at it from a perspective of addressing it for zoning if a [medical marijuana] store comes in,” said Foxborough Board of Selectmen chair James DeVellis. “Where is it going to be located? How is it going to be controlled? They are asking us to support their request and send a letter to the state.”
Foxborough Town Manager Kevin Paicos respectfully disagreed with Walpole’s request.
“Not to be critical of anyone but I think there is some concern about control of marijuana use and who would be at these clinics,” Paicos said. “I’m not sure that’s really founded because the Department of Public Health is putting out some stringent regulations about this obviously. In other states where it is allowed it is very tightly controlled for obvious reasons.”
Paicos admitted he wasn’t sure what the “fear is” with medical marijuana.
“Unless somebody can articulate something specific I think sending a letter saying don’t implement [the medical marijuana law] against the overwhelming will of the voters is kind of throwing it in the face of the voters,” Paicos said.
After a six-minute discussion, Foxborough’s Board of Selectmen agreed to take no action on Walpole’s request and will not ask the town's representatives to delay the implementation of the medical marijuana law.
Gustavo Picciuto
8:25 am on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
"...“In states that have allowed the creative fiction of ‘medical marijuana,’ there has been an increase of drug use by teenagers, and an escalation of violent crimes in neighborhoods with dispensing stations,”.."
False. In Colorado where there are more dispensaries than Starbucks, Marijuana use by teens as actually gone down and below the national average. Read the article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/07/marijuana-usage-down-in-t_n_1865095.html.
Chief O'Leary seems to think that California is the only state that has implemented this law because it's all he talks about; California is the worst model to take idea from in the country. Besides doesn't he know that Marijuana is out there already and it's pretty abundant?? All this does is allow people who need it for medical reasons to not have to hide to get what works for them, it may not be medicine for some but for these people that use it it's what works for them. I think chief O'Leary is just scared of what he doesn't know and understand but by his ignorance he's creating a vacuum in credibility on himself and his department.
Gustavo Picciuto
8:25 am on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Here's another study debunking the violence around dispensaries argument suggested by Chief O'Leary.
http://reason.com/blog/2012/06/08/study-finds-no-link-between-medical-mari
Mike Parent
9:03 am on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The Chief should read more. Obviously, he missed this CDC report;
FACT For good measure, the CDC reported Med Marijuana doesn't increase teen use.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57456999-10391704/medical-marijua...
wont-boost-teen-pot-use-study-finds/”
BCD4095
11:05 am on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Get up to speed Chief O'Leary. Your ignorance degrades your utility and credibility as a policeman.
FlyingTooLow
3:06 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
I copied the below comment from another website. I think the American veteran who wrote this sums it up very well:
"I am a disabled Army Veteran and smoke marijuana strictly for medical purposes. I never smoked before I broke my back in the military and it hasen't been a gateway to anything. I started smoking because of my cauda equina syndrome.
I had a herniated disk in my lower back that compressed the nerves at the lower end of my spine (cauda equina nerves). The doctors couldn't prevent permanent damage, so I am left with permanent pain that is so severe that it leads to vomiting on a consistant basis without my medacine (marijuana). The doctors prescribed me morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, oxycotton, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, etc... All of the above named meda...
cines made me useless, I hardly knew what was happening around me. On top of that, they didnt help with the pain or the vomiting from the pain. I felt like bugs were crawling under my skin.
After complaining about this for a while, friends and family handed me cannabis. I was reluctant at first, due to the stigma that goes along with it. After I gave it a try, I realized that it was far and away a better solution than any of the above named DRUGS. I had none of the issues with cannabis that I had with all those other PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS. I can function and carry on with my life. Marijuana has made me a better person and a far more functional parent and husband."
FlyingTooLow
3:06 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Our nation was founded upon freedom of the individual. Each of our citizens was guaranteed the right to the pursuit of happiness...so long as he brings no harm to his fellow citizens or their property.
When did this change?
I spent 5 years in Federal Prison for a marijuana offense.
And I am as harmless as a Beagle puppy.
I wrote about the escapades that led to my 'extended vacation'...my book:
Shoulda Robbed a Bank
I would be honored by your review.
R. Hood
8:02 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Wed 12/5: Root Beer (brown carcenogic water)coming out of the tap! Do you think Officer Dipple could arrest the culprits!
Thinking Clearly
9:00 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
He is not the first to make warnings like this.
http://t.co/h4Lcj6e2
Some people never learn their lessons.
Stephen
9:41 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
I think our Chief of Police is acting appropriately. I live here and am not a relative defending the Chief... Agree or disagree with his opinion. He is giving his opinion as one dedicated to his job and I would rather have him be open about it than silent. This incredibly lovely town has all manner of good and bad like any other, but at least our Chief is candid on this one and, as a parent of young impressionable kids it's good to know we have someone with a heavy responsibility for our public safety on the watch. We are blessed to have such a fine place to raise our families.
Gustavo Picciuto
9:34 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
I respect your opinion but police officers job is to enforce the law and protect and serve the community; not to legislate for or against any laws, I agree he shouldn't be silent but he shouldn't be biased either, he should be neutral and let our voice and our civil leaders decide the laws. That aside, I would respect his opinion if it was even well founded but it's not, his perspective on the issue shows his ignorance on the matter and takes away from his credibility as a person of the law. I would much rather have an informed Chief of Police that doesn't get himself too involved in legislating new laws than having someone like O'Leary sticking his neck out for something he has no idea what he's talking about and seeming ignorant and outdated while doing it. I rather raise my kids with the truth and science based logic than with hysteria and propaganda. Then you wonder why your kids lie to you and don't trust you when they get older.
itsallgoodjo
3:45 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Colorado Law Enforcement claimed the same before the Dispensary model.
It proved fasle. No increase in crime. Teenage use is down. Police are free to go after real criminals. State and local Municipalities are raking in the tax Rev.
Colorado ranks #10 ecomomically in entire USA. Not bad for a small State!
Stephen
11:37 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Gustavo. Do you live in this town?
Gustavo Picciuto
8:43 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012
Does it matter where I live? If I didn't live in Foxborough I would still be entitled to my opinion regardless if it affects me directly or not, everyone is, it's up to you if you want to take into regard or not.
Bumbling B
2:22 pm on Sunday, December 16, 2012
This Chief is no chief. His cowboys run the show down there in Foxboro. He is a joke & should just retire time for some new blood in there. It should also be a hire from outside the current force. Thete is much corruption in the small town of Foxboro. Sad to see this town go down the drain.