Pubdate: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA) Copyright: 2002 Worcester Telegram & Gazette Contact: http://www.telegram.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/509 Author: Mark Melady Note: only publishes letters from state residents. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) MARIJUANA QUESTIONS ON BALLOT WORCESTER-- Two nonbinding marijuana questions will be on the November ballot in the 14th Worcester District, the result of a successful signature drive by local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition. Voters can express their preference on the issue of legalizing marijuana cultivation for medicinal purposes and decriminalizing possession of less than an ounce of the drug. Ronal C. Madnick, executive director of the Worcester County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, said marijuana has proven effective in treating the symptoms of diseases such as cancer and leukemia and should be allowed with a doctor's approval. Criminal marijuana laws, said Mr. Madnick, "often impose arbitrary, harsh and cruel penalties for private conduct for which no criminal penalty is appropriate." State Rep. James B. Leary, D-Worcester, who represents the 14th district, was unavailable to comment last night. The district includes West Boylston and Ward 1, Precinct 5; Ward 2; Ward 3, Precincts 1, 3, and 5 in Worcester. Mayor Timothy R. Murray said he would be surprised if the ballot questions passed, but even if they did, he questioned the validity of a vote in one district. "Until they can get a statewide question, it's not going to mean much," Mr. Murray said. William Breault, president and founder of the Main South Alliance and an ardent opponent of medicinal marijuana and decriminalization, said medicinal supporters failed to gather the 56,000 signatures needed to get on a the statewide ballot a few years ago. "They came up woefully short statewide, so now they're resorting to small, feel-good ballot questions," Mr. Breault said. "I guess they can do that, but I don't know what it proves." He noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against medicinal marijuana and that the state Department of Public Health, once investigating medicinal uses, has been quiet on the subject. "The DPH looked into it five or six years ago, and that went nowhere," he said. "It should be a dead issue, but they keep trying to back-door it. People around here will not go for legalization. They know marijuana is not neighborhood friendly." The question on medical marijuana reads: "Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to vote for legislation that would allow patients with certain diseases who have a written doctor's recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of cannabis (marijuana) for their personal use until such time as the federal government puts into effect a distribution system for these patients?" The possession question reads: "Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would make the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana a civil violation subject to a maximum fine of $100 and not subject to any criminal penalties?" - --- MAP posted-by: Tom