Marijuana.com

Buzzby

Where There's Smoke?
Joel Beck | Georgetown Record | 04/20/2006

For Board of Selectmen candidate Matthew Vincent, the issue has become something of an elephant in the room.

While he has not touched the topic to this point in his campaign, Vincent said he could no longer remain quiet about the fact that his opponent, Steven Epstein, is a leading advocate for the decriminalization of marijuana.

He said he is particularly bothered by what he perceives as an effort on Epstein's part to market his cause toward young people - particularly college students - by promoting concerts and the annual "Freedom Rally" in Boston.

Vincent also said he believes legitimizing that cause may be a driving force behind Epstein's decision to seek elected office in Georgetown. Epstein vehemently denies such claims, saying his only interests are in serving Georgetown and in making it a better place to live. Epstein has served previously on the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Government Review Committee and the Cable Advisory Committee.

"My position on marijuana has nothing to do with my decision to run for selectman," said Epstein, a local attorney who is also a founder of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition (MassCan), a state affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). "If that's Mr. Vincent's opinion, then I believe he is unfit for the job of selectman.

"I would have no powers (to further marijuana law reform) on the board," Epstein added. "None whatsoever."

Still, Vincent said it could turn some heads across the state if a vocal supporter of loosening marijuana laws is elected to public office.

"I don't believe he's necessarily concerned just about Georgetown," said Vincent, who is also an attorney. "If he wins, he knows politicians have to pay attention to that. It sends a message that says, 'See, you can be pro-marijuana and still get elected.'"

Vincent said there are many reasons he would like to join the Board of Selectmen, but he admitted that his decision to run now was accelerated Epstein's candidacy. Three other candidates - including School Committee member Daryl Barta, who was considered by some to be the favorite - had pulled papers for selectman, but ultimately bowed out, leaving Epstein as the lone candidate until Vincent entered the race.

"I couldn't in good conscience let Steve run unopposed," said Vincent. "The town deserves answers."

While Epstein maintains that his candidacy is exclusively focused on the issues facing Georgetown, he said he believes the majority of voters aren't even concerned with the issue of marijuana or his work as a decriminalization advocate.

He pointed out that he has twice sponsored non-binding legislation asking voters whether they think the penalties for possession of marijuana should be treated more like a traffic ticket than a criminal offense. Both times, Epstein said, more than 50 percent of the voters in Georgetown favored the legislation. To him, that's a sign that most people aren't as concerned about the issue as Vincent.

"There are so many other issues in Georgetown that he could attack me with if he wanted to," said Epstein. "I don't even know how to respond to this. I'm flabbergasted."

Vincent said he has repeatedly denied requests from Epstein to participate in debates prior to the May 8 election, mainly because he would feel compelled to raise the marijuana issue and he said he does not want the race to become focused on that.

And Epstein certainly doesn't want to go down that road either: "I just don't see how it's an issue," he said.

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