Pubdate: Thu, 7 Oct 2010
Source: Dover-Sherborn Press (Framingham, MA)
Copyright: 2010 Dover-Sherborn Press
Contact:  http://www.wickedlocal.com/dover/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3586
Author: Matt Tempesta, Correspondent
Cited: Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition http://www.MassCann.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

Race for State Rep:

GARLICK, O'LEARY TAKE 'WAIT AND SEE' APPROACH TO POT

Dover -- Voters heading to the polls in Dover, Needham and parts of 
Medfield on election day will have a new, nonbinding ballot question 
to ponder: should legislation be passed that would allow the state to 
regulate and tax the cultivation and sale of marijuana to adults?

After the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition collected more than 
200 signatures last spring, it was announced in late September that 
the question would appear on the ballot not as a referendum, but 
strictly as a voter opinion poll.

Despite this, both Democrat Denise Garlick and Republican John 
O'Leary, who are running for the House of Representatives seat in the 
13th Norfolk District being vacated by state Rep. Lida Harkins, are 
taking a wait-and-see approach before making any decisions on the question.

"Based on the nature of this question, where what they're trying to 
do is get people's views on it, I'm not going to really comment on 
the content on the legislation," said O'Leary. "I think it's a nice 
way to make use of democracy to find out where people stand on things 
early. So rather than influence an outcome on that, I'll be 
interested in seeing what the results are myself."

Garlick expressed some concern over potential legalization of 
marijuana, but did not come out for, or against it.

"This ballot referendum question has only recently been added to the 
ballots in Needham, Dover and Medfield," said Garlick. "As a 
professional registered nurse, I am deeply concerned about the many 
complexities associated with this referendum question."

According to Steven S. Epstein, a founder and an officer at MassCann, 
questions like this have appeared on ballots in the past, which 
eventually led to Question 2 in 2008.

"Between 2000 and 2006, we ran a large number of questions involving 
the decriminalization of marijuana, and in 2004 and 2006 they were 
all getting up to 63 percent of the vote," said Epstein. "The 
legislature had ample opportunity to decriminalize marijuana on their 
own terms, and in their pride they chose not to. Money came into the 
state and we got Question 2."

Bill H2929, which is modeled after the Alcohol Beverage Control Act, 
would create the Cannabis Control Authority (similar to the Alcoholic 
Beverage Commission) which would, according to a press release from 
MassCann, "oversee the issuance of cultivation licenses, processing 
licenses, trade licenses, retail licenses, import licenses, research 
licenses and farmer-processor-retailer licenses."

The bill would also create licensing fees and excise taxes on 
marijuana sold in retail stores.

While this current question will only show how voters feel about 
marijuana legislation, Epstein said elected officials don't 
necessarily have to comply either way with the result of the ballot question.

"They don't necessarily have to do anything, but it tells them how 
their constituents that bothered to vote on Nov. 2 feel about the 
general proposition of legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana 
for adults," said Epstein. "It can have a powerful impression on some 
politicians, and have no impression on other politicians ... I can't 
[make a prediction], but I can say this about the incumbents, they 
don't want anything to do with it. They think it's going to harm them."

For O'Leary, any decision he makes on cannabis legislation will have 
to take in several factors other than the ballot question alone.

"I'd like to see what the results are, and also I definitely want to 
take the pulse on something like that from a lot of different sources 
before coming to any real conclusions," said O'Leary.

Garlick also expressed interest in further research into the topic, 
but also declined to say if she'll take any cues from voters on the question.

"Research is still evolving," said Garlick. "I am interested in what 
the voters of my district will vote on this question, and the further 
information and education and research we will all need to make our 
best decision." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake