Pubdate: Thu, 15 Mar 2012
Source: Metrowest Daily News (MA)
Copyright: 2012 MetroWest Daily News
Contact:  http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/619
Author: Erica Dinerman

GRANT WILL HELP FIGHT POT BALLOT MEASURE

NATICK =AD The article =93Parents, experts worry
about young brains on pot,=94 March 4, reported,
=93locally, the substance abuse coalition Natick
Together2 has a five-year, $1.1 million federal
grant to target marijuana and alcohol.=94 The Drug
Free Communities Grant awarded to Natick is
actually for $625.000, $125,000 per year for five
years. It is a lot of money and people may wonder
what Natick or any community can do to fight
underage substance use. Education is a primary
goal and currently, our community needs
information about the possibility of a ballot
question that would legalization medicinal marijuana.

When the decriminalization of marijuana was on
the ballot in 2008, Mass. prevention
professionals missed a critical opportunity to
make recommendations that included enforceable
consequences. Decriminalization passed by a large
margin and allows for possession of under an
ounce without dispatch of criminal consequences.
There are still consequences that include a fine,
education and community service. Unfortunately,
this is an unfunded mandate with no follow up of
fine collection, no available education and no
monitoring of community service. We don't want this to happen again.

This November 2012, Mass. voters could see a
question on the ballot to legalize medicinal
marijuana. Prevention professionals are primarily
concerned with access youth will have to
marijuana made available through poorly regulated
dispensaries. We can't afford to pass another law
that has unenforceable mandates. Prevention
professionals are preparing for the ballot
question through community education and by
working with lawmakers on Beacon Hill. Voters
need balanced information about the
unacknowledged consequences of legalization of
medicinal marijuana. Educate yourself about how
the influx of "medicinal marijuana" and
dispensaries will impact youth. We need to be
clear about how lawmakers will keep youth safe
and healthy. Visit www.mapreventionalliance.org

ERICA DINERMAN

Project Director

Natick Together for Youth
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom