Massachusetts post offices confiscated record number of marijuana packages in 2018
By Sophie Lewis
/ CBS News
Massachusetts post offices confiscated a record number of marijuana bundles in 2018 — the same year recreational pot shops opened up in the state, CBS Boston reported. While it is legal to buy and sell marijuana in Massachusetts, it is not legal to mail it.
Last year, local postal inspectors confiscated 434 marijuana packages through the end of November. That is more than triple the rate since its legalization in the state in 2016.
"It's still illegal under the Federal Controlled Substances Act. People have to be aware of that," Stephen Doherty, a U.S. Postal Service spokesperson, told CBS Boston. Doherty said postal inspectors have no plans to slow down or cease these types of confiscations.
The Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) still supports its policy of intercepting packages containing pot. "It's against federal law, and our job is to just follow that law," said Special Agent Jon DeLena. "We're always focusing on the largest scale drug trafficking organizations that we can identify."
While several states have legalized both medical and recreational marijuana usage, the federal government still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug — a category that also includes heroin, LSD and ecstasy. According to the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, cannabis has "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse." It is considered more dangerous than drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine and OxyContin.
At least 55 of the confiscated packages contained less than one ounce of marijuana, records show. One weighed less than a penny. Only two percent of packages seized contained opioids.
"Here in New England, sadly, we know that fentanyl is readily available," DeLena explained. "So we don't have a lot of cases where people are going online and ordering packages through the mail."
Sending or receiving marijuana through the mail is a felony that can lead to up to five years in prison. In cases involving larger quantities or second offenses, the punishment can be even more severe.
First published on February 9, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Mass. post offices confiscated record number of marijuana packages last year
While it is legal to buy and sell marijuana in Massachusetts, it is not legal to mail it
updated 2M ago 
2019 Grammys: How to stream online or watch on TV
Alicia Keys will host the 61st annual Grammy Awards from Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS
updated 27M ago 
Dental assistant accused of stealing jewelry from sedated patients
Arieta Gouvakis, 38, faces charges of grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property
1H ago 
Elizabeth Warren officially launches 2020 presidential campaign
The rally for Warren's announcement took place in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the site of a 1912 strike by textile workers
3H ago 
Hurricanes are intensifying more rapidly and it may be our fault
Storms that quickly strengthen are often the most challenging to predict, and they can cause more damage
3H ago 
Top Saudi official: “Very strange” Congress trying to curtail allies
Margaret Brennan sat down with top Saudi official Adel Al-Jubeir for an interview to air Sunday on “Face the Nation”
updated 37M ago
Elizabeth Warren officially launches 2020 presidential campaign
The rally for Warren's announcement took place in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the site of a 1912 strike by textile workers
3H ago 
The 2020 contenders
These are the candidates who have announced an exploratory committee or are all-in for the presidency in 2020, aiming to deny Trump a second term
3H ago 
Top Virginia Democrats call on Lt. Gov. Fairfax to step down
A second woman accused him of sexual assault — a college classmate of the Virginia lieutenant governor accused him of raping her when they were at Duke in 2000
6H ago 
Senator introduces S. 420, a bill to legalize marijuana
The bill would allow for the regulation and taxation of marijuana
5H ago 
Prince Philip gives up driver’s license after crash
Prosecutors said they would consider the decision as they decide whether to charge Philip over the Jan. 17 crash
updated 22M ago
Top Saudi official: “Very strange” Congress trying to curtail allies
Margaret Brennan sat down with top Saudi official Adel Al-Jubeir for an interview to air Sunday on “Face the Nation”
updated 37M ago 
Pablo Escobar's hippos keep breeding and Colombia doesn't know what to do
It's not uncommon to spot a three-ton hippo walking around town
4H ago 
Yellow vest protester's hand ripped apart in 13th week of unrest
Police said the protester lost four fingers as police in Paris swooped in to stop protesters
4H ago 
Number of people with measles tripled in Europe in 2018, WHO says
"The picture for 2018 makes it clear that the current pace of progress in raising immunization rates will be insufficient to stop measles circulation"
7H ago 
2019 Grammys: How to stream online or watch on TV
Alicia Keys will host the 61st annual Grammy Awards from Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS
updated 27M ago 
Beirut's Zach Condon on discovering his worldly sound
The genre-bending sounds of the band were born out of a New Mexico teenager's bedroom
3H ago 
Michael Jackson's estate assails HBO plans for documentary
The first installment of the four-hour "Leaving Neverland" documentary will first air on HBO on March 3
4H ago 
Ex-Fleetwood Mac guitarist has surgery that damaged his vocal cords
Lindsey Buckingham underwent open heart surgery and is now recovering
9H ago 
Major artists turned down Grammy performances, producer says
Ehrlich admitted the Grammys has a problem in the hip-hop world – he may also have a problem in the pop world after a confrontation with Ariana Grande
23H ago 
Wells Fargo outage: Customers say direct deposits aren't showing up
Banking customers complained about problems accessing their accounts, while the bank vowed to reverse fees
Feb 8 
Global lawmakers try again to get Zuckerberg to testify
A Facebook vice president sat next to an empty chair reserved for CEO Mark Zuckerberg when the committee met in London last year
Feb 7 
NASA and SpaceX reset Crew Dragon test flight for March 2
The Crew Dragon and Starliner spacecraft are the centerpieces of NASA's drive to resume launching U.S. astronauts aboard U.S. rockets from U.S. soil
Feb 6 
Earth could be headed for warmest period on record
The next five years could be even hotter than 2018, which was already near record territory
Feb 7 
Snap reports record revenues, but struggles to add users
Struggling social media company gets a badly needed boost in growth, while its losses narrowed
Feb 5 
Number of people with measles tripled in Europe in 2018, WHO says
"The picture for 2018 makes it clear that the current pace of progress in raising immunization rates will be insufficient to stop measles circulation"
7H ago 
Hundreds rally against vaccinations amid measles outbreak
Washington currently allows parents to refuse vaccines for philosophical reasons
21H ago 
Measles anywhere is a threat to kids everywhere
Homegrown outbreaks in the U.S. aren't caused by lack of access to a vaccine, but because parents in this country are choosing not to get their kids vaccinated
20H ago 
Bill would require vaccinations amid Northwest measles outbreak
Cecilia Rodriguez was too young to be vaccinated when she contracted measles. 30 years later, her eye sight, speech and hearing are still affected.
Feb 8 
Walgreens tops list for illegal cigarette sales to minors
FDA says the drugstore chain has racked up nearly 1,800 violations for selling tobacco products to children
Feb 7 
"Fiji Water Girl" is countersued by Fiji Water over Golden Globes photos
The countersuit claims Kelleth Cuthbert, who went viral for her Golden Globes photobombing, wants "to extort" money from the water company
21H ago 
Gucci and Prada aim for outrageousness, get outrage
Upscale fashion designers spur backlash with racist designs — are they as clueless as they seem?
21H ago 
Target updates app after TV station reveals in-store price hikes
The TV station randomly picked 10 items and found four of them jumped in price when they approached a store
23H ago 
So far, tax refunds this year are smaller than in 2018
Average refund dropped by $170 from this time last year, leaving some taxpayers fuming
15H ago 
Spike Lee boycotts Gucci and Prada over blackface items
His boycott was a powerful message to fashion houses
Feb 8 
Dental assistant accused of stealing jewelry from sedated patients
Arieta Gouvakis, 38, faces charges of grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property
1H ago 
5 minors charged in deadly shooting of Nashville musician
The five kids — three girls and two boys — range in age from 12 to 16. They were arrested at a Walmart in Nashville
5H ago 
Sierra Leone declares national emergency over rape
President says hundreds of cases of rape and sexual assault are reported each month against women, girls and babies
21H ago 
Lawsuit claims deputies "literally watched" inmate die
Lawsuit says jail staff never got India Cummings proper treatment as her physical and mental health declined over 17 days
21H ago 
Customs officer shoots, injures man at U.S.-Mexico border
The driver was transported to a local hospital; the officer was not injured
22H ago Original Article
