Northampton City Council seeks to decriminalize psychedelic drugs, urge police make possession low enforcement priority
Updated Apr 01, 2021;
Efforts are underway to make pursuing criminal charges for possession of psychedelics less of a priority in one Western Massachusetts community.
The Northampton City Council is slated to vote on a resolution urging the decriminalization of the use and possession of entheogenic plants, for which psychedelic drugs fall under, pointing to their potential medical benefits as well as the harmful impact of the so-called “war on drugs.”
The council is expected to issue a final vote in favor of the resolution Thursday night. The municipal legislative body already passed the resolution in a first vote March 18.
2 more Northampton councilors announce intentions
KAREN FOSTER
Published: 3/8/2021 7:51:44 PM
NORTHAMPTON One current city councilor, Ward 2’s Karen Foster, announced over the weekend that she intends to run for reelection this fall, while another councilor, Ward 4’s John Thorpe, said he’s calling it quits.
Both councilors are in the middle of their first terms.
In a message to supporters, Thorpe said, “I am writing with a bit of a heavy heart to let you know that I have decided not to seek re-election as City Councilor for Ward 4.”
Thorpe is a probation officer in Northampton District Court. He was elected to the council in 2019, and he may have been the first African American person elected to the council for decades, if not the first.
NORTHAMPTON Ward 1 City Councilor Michael Quinlan announced Wednesday that he’s running for one of two at-large seats becoming vacant on the council.“I feel the knowledge I have gained and keep gaining on a daily basis coupled with my energy and.
David Murphy eyes return to Northampton City Council
DAVID MURPHY
NORTHAMPTON A longtime former city councilor is returning to run for an at-large position.
David Murphy announced his candidacy after at-large City Councilor Gina-Louise Sciarra announced a mayoral campaign Tuesday and fellow at-large City Councilor William Dwight announced Wednesday that he would not seek another term.
“Both of those positions are open, so I’m going to take a shot and run for them,” Murphy said Wednesday afternoon.
“I did spend 14 years there, so I pretty much got the councilor thing down,” he said, adding that he is currently on the city’s Board of Assessors. “I’m not out of municipal government. I do know municipal finance really well.”
Dwight ending long run on Northampton City Council
William H. Dwight pictured in 2017. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY PHOTO
Published: 3/3/2021 8:10:45 PM
NORTHAMPTON After nearly 20 collective years of being on the City Council, at-large member William Dwight announced he’s not seeking another term this fall.
“It really is the most important thing I’ve done,” Dwight said in an interview Wednesday. “I’m a slacker and an aging hippie. This was the thing that gave me personal value. That sounds kinda selfish, but by and large the reason was, I was able to at least work toward what I consider to be best for everyone … all the constituency.”