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Marijuana Supporters Submit Petition in York

A group trying to convince Maine cities and towns to legalize marijuana possession for adults has submitted signatures in the town of York to get the measure considered for the ballot.

Citizens for a Safer Maine handed in more than 200 signatures today to the York town clerk, twice the number needed. If the town's board of selectmen doesn't act on the petition, supporters can still get the measure on the ballot if they collect enough signatures to equal 10 percent of the local votes cast in the last gubernatorial election within 30 days.

In a statement, local realtor Sherry DaBiere, who submitted the petition, says adults "should not be punished for possessing small amounts of marijuana, and our laws should reflect that. Law enforcement has more serious crimes to deal with."

Portland voters approved a similar measure in November.  The drug has been available for medical purposes in Maine since 2009.
 

Barbara grew up in Biddeford, Maine. She earned a master’s in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s in English from the University of Southern Maine.