Pubdate: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 Source: Metrowest Daily News (MA) Copyright: 2004 MetroWest Daily News Contact: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/619 Author: Sarah MacDonald, News Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/marijuana+initiative Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Cited: Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts http://www.dpfma.org/ Cited: Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition http://www.MassCann.org A SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR MARIJUANA NATICK -- In November, thousands of voters across the state will face ballot questions involving marijuana, and one local candidate is doing his best to educate people on the matter. Jim Pillsbury, a Framingham resident and candidate for state representative, hosted an hour-long cable access show about benefits of hemp and the drawbacks to "prohibition." "In the age of terrorism and homeland security, the government is spending money to fly planes over fields to look out for a plant that has been around for centuries," said Pillsbury, who taped the show in Natick's Pegasus studio Thursday night. "It doesn't make sense." The program included a fashion show with garments from Jon Napoli's The Hempest on Newbury Street in Boston and discussions on decriminalization efforts with Whitney Taylor from the Massachusetts Drug Policy Forum and Steven Epstein from Massachusetts Canabis Reform. The two organizations have pushed to place questions on the ballot across Massachusetts. "We need to keep reminding people our marijuana laws are still as ridiculous as they've ever been," Taylor said. Two of the ballot questions ask voters in two state Senate districts and five House districts if they support making marijuana possession a civil violation instead of a crime. Voters represented by state Rep. James Vallee, D-Franklin, and state Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, are among those who would be asked whether the state should decriminalize the drug. A third question, meanwhile, asks voters in four House districts if "seriously ill patients" should be allowed to grow and possess marijuana for medicinal purposes. This fall, Pillsbury will challenge state Rep. Deborah Blumer as a write-in candidate, since he failed to file necessary papers with Secretary of State William Galvin's office. Pillsbury was defeated by Blumer in 2002 for the 6th Middlesex District seat. Framingham Republican and Holy Cross Professor Nicolas Sanchez and Framingham resident Gerald Bloomfield, an independent candidate, will appear on the ballot as Blumer's opponents. Pillsbury said the marijuana question is one he'll raise on the campaign trail, citing a 2000 ballot question in which 67 percent of voters in the 6th Middlesex District said possession of marijuana should be a civil infraction. "It's the essence of the will of the voter. If that ballot question didn't have such overwhelming support, I probably wouldn't still be talking about this today. But people care," Pillsbury said. "I think we're on the right track." Pillsbury said he has not decided whether to sue the town of Natick for denying a request to tape his show on the town common. Pillsbury does not have insurance the town requires for a Natick Common event. "I've got other things to focus on, like the campaign," he said. "But it's a crazy world and we'll see what happens. Town officials said the requirement, an insurance policy which releases the town from any liability, is standard. The issue is not new to Pillsbury, founder of a group which sued Ashland in May 2002, after the town required $1.5 million in liability insurance for an event to be held at Stone Park. The town eventually settled with Pillsbury's National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. "Yes, we should be in (Natick's) gazebo perhaps by the time I'm 55 or 56," joked Pillsbury, 51. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake