Quote Originally Posted by Rouier
Weed is decriminalized in Massachusetts. I'm thinking about posting an ad on Craigslist to find a connect. I know under an ounce is only a $100 fine. I'm willing to risk the $100 fine for possession, but does purchasing it fall under a different law?

I just want to make sure that a $100 fine is all I'm risking. If that's the case, they wouldn't even setup a sting for $100. I have ADHD and weed is the only thing that helps me focus.
The words "buy/purchase" is nowhere in the Mass. statute. Nor is the word "sale". It says: "knowingly or intentionally manufactures, distributes, dispenses or cultivates, or possesses."

After a little research on some legal databases (I'm a law student) I found the definition in Mass. for distribute to be: "to deliver other than by administering or dispensing a controlled substance." So it really just means "to deliver" - the reason the "other than by..." line is in there is to differentiate it as to whether it was legally obtained through a prescription or other legal method.

As far as case law goes, I have not found one case that has considered the purchasing a criminal offense. It is the "possession" after the purchase that is illegal (or a civil offense if not more than an ounce). The only time the purchase is illegal is if it is in a high enough quantity to constitute trafficking (which requires a HELL of a lot) or if it can be construed that you purchased (and therefore possess) with the intent to distribute - which is not a concern for personal use.

Cheers

EDIT: I should mention that I think there is a provision in there regarding "school zones." So stay away from them and you should be alright.