Pubdate: Fri, 17 Jan 2014
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2014 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Note: Prints only very short LTEs.

THE POLITICS OF POT

The new "medical" marijuana industry in Massachusetts has inspired a 
slew of lobbyists and consultants and entrepreneurs to get into the 
weed game (we use air quotes because of course there is no such thing 
as "medical" marijuana - only plain old marijuana marketed to those 
with medical conditions). But finally it has occurred to someone that 
in the midst of that mad scramble for pot dollars some very real 
conflicts might crop up.

Bay State Republicans yesterday slammed the licensing process for 
marijuana dispensaries in Massachusetts as "politicized and 
secretive," noting in particular the political ties between a 
lobbyist for one license applicant and the head of the state 
Department of Public Health, which will award the licenses.

The process could surely be perceived the way the GOP describes it, 
and that ought to be enough to consider the changes they're seeking. 
They recommend an independent commission modeled on the state Gaming 
Commission, rather than a team of Patrick administration insiders, to 
decide which applicants will score one of up to 35 lucrative pot licenses.

The comparison to the Gaming Commission makes sense, since the panel 
that was established to regulate that new-to-Massachusetts and 
legally-tricky industry has set a new standard for transparency. Not 
so the pot process.

And while it's a bit late to make a dramatic procedural change (the 
licenses are expected to be awarded in the coming weeks) the campaign 
should at least educate the voters of the commonwealth on what voting 
"yes" on the 2012 marijuana ballot question has unleashed.

Indeed, it's rather amusing to meet the cast of characters now 
panting after the weed business, including at least a half dozen 
former state lawmakers. Surely in the old days they'd have been more 
likely to support a special committee to examine drug addiction and 
treatment - like, say, the one that Senate President Therese Murray 
announced just yesterday.

Dollar signs really do affect one's point of view, don't they?
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom