Police call marijuana a gateway drug because it can lead to abuse of other substances.

And local teenagers con tacted by The Sun Chronicle say they see the gate swinging wide open if a bill to decrimi nalize marijuana passes on Beacon Hill.

The possession of less than an ounce of marijuana would become a civil violation sub ject to a $250 fine under a bill recommended by the Legisla ture's Mental Health and Sub stance Abuse Committee.

Currently, a marijuana conviction is permanently on a defendant's criminal record.

Attleboro High School sophomore Amanda Pelkey said some teens would consider trying marijuana if they knew they only had to pay a fine. `` If it was put in their record, they wouldn't do the drugs because it would follow them,'' Pelkey, 16, said.

She was hanging out after school at the Bartek Recreation Center in Attleboro.

`` In DARE, they tell you it's bad for you,'' Pelkey said. `` If they tell you that you can pay a fine, you can do it and get it over with, and it will go away.''

Some students call that penalty too harsh for people who try drugs and then quit.

`` You can stop and quit -- and if you quit -- it follows you around, and people think you did it all the time,'' one male student said.

Supporters in the Legislature say the bill is meant to place the emphasis on preventing drug abuse, rather than punishing abusers.

Critics say the bill sends kids the wrong message -- that substance abuse is OK.

That contradicts the lessons in DARE, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.

`` It opens Pandora's Box,'' Attleboro DARE Officer Thomas Wellman said. `` If they know the penalty is less, I believe it would increase the number of kids trying it and thinking they can get away with it, thinking it's no big deal.''

Attleboro seventh-grader Jordan Rodriguez said students are scared most by the threat of a marijuana conviction going on their permanent record. A fine would not deter students from trying marijuana, she said.

`` I think they would risk it because it won't get on their record, and they would not get into the trouble they would usually get in,'' said Rodriguez, 13.

Attleboro Youth Center Coordinator Tim Killion agrees.

`` It might lead to more kids trying marijuana, knowing they won't have to appear in court, just pay a fine,'' Killion said.

Killion supports keeping possession of less than an ounce a criminal offense.

`` Kids understand that there's rules to live by in society,'' he said. `` I'm a believer in at least in the beginning, being strict with kids. As you gain trust with them, let out the rope a little bit.''

Norfolk DARE Officer Steven Plympton said he doesn't buy supporters' claims that decriminalizing the crime would be a form of drug prevention.

`` I think there's a lot of prevention out there. I think we're looking out for the best interests of the kids,'' Plympton said.

`` I really believe there needs to be some penalty,'' he said. `` What message are you sending out if you don't have a consequence for your actions?''

The Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition supports the bill.

Twelve states have similar laws, coalition spokesman Steven Epstein said.

However, the bill is `` not good news for teenagers,'' Epstein said.

`` They will still be handcuffed. They will still be brought to the (police) station. They will still have to face the wrath of Mom or Dad or their guardian at the police station,'' he said.

`` This is not giving teenagers a free ride by any stretch of the imagination. If it was one of my teenagers, the $250 would come out of their hide.''