Today's teens may not be big on news, but they're very much up on the state's decriminalization of recreational marijuana, a psychologist and author specializing in substance abuse and addiction told the Herald. "Certainly we've heard from kids, 'Hey, it's not illegal,' " said Michael Levy, vice president of clinical services for CAB Health and Recovery Services. Some teens' perception of pot is that decriminalization has "normalized" it and made it seem "less deviant," Levy said. "They like the high. It's fun. It's a social thing. (They say) it calms them down, makes them less aggressive, breaks up boredom. 'What's the big dealUKP' " [continues 216 words]
Since recreational marijuana use was decriminalized in Massachusetts last year, pot-related trafficking and violence have escalated across the state, frustrated law enforcement officials tell the Herald. Smoking weed is not a victimless crime, they say. "We knew it was going to be a nightmare for public safety and law enforcement. An ounce of marijuana can make a thousand joints," Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr. said. "Question 2 perpetuated a feeling that marijuana is somehow safer than other drugs. It's another mind-altering substance. What are we doing in this country? Can't anyone get through the day without a drink or a drug?" [continues 670 words]
California voters shot down Proposition 19 last week, but the campaign put full marijuana legalization on the table. Its supporters plan to come back to the voters in 2012. Massachusetts voters sent a quieter message on the same topic. Ballots in 18 legislative districts included non-binding questions on marijuana. Half of the questions asked legislators to support legalizing use of marijuana for medical purposes, the other half supporting the regulation, cultivation, sale and taxation of marijuana. The results were consistent across the state: Voters said "yes," by margins ranging from 54 percent to 70 percent, the Associated Press reports. Locally, voters in Hudson, Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland, Lincoln and Dover supported full legalization. Voters in Bellingham, Medfield, Blackstone and Uxbridge supported legalization for medical use. In every local district, at least 60 percent of voters supported the propositions. Drug policy reform advocates in Massachusetts have been putting marijuana-related questions on the ballot since 2000. Each time, the question has asked state legislators to help write the reforms into law. Out of 63 ballot questions, voters have approved all 63, but the Legislature has yet to bring any reform bill to the floor for a vote. [continues 380 words]
California voters shot down Proposition 19 last week, but the campaign put full marijuana legalization on the table. Its supporters plan to come back to the voters in 2012. Massachusetts voters sent a quieter message on the same topic. Ballots in 18 legislative districts included non-binding questions on marijuana. Half of the questions asked legislators to support legalizing use of marijuana for medical purposes, the other half supporting the regulation, cultivation, sale and taxation of marijuana. The results were consistent across the state: Voters said "yes," by margins ranging from 54 percent to 70 percent, the Associated Press reports. [continues 477 words]
The elections have shown a (predictably) divided nation when it comes to regulating/ending the illogical and costly prohibition of marijuana. Although the nonbinding Question 5 did not make it onto my precinct's ballot, I could not be more proud of my town for voting 62 percent to 38 percent in favor of the regulation and taxing of marijuana. On the other side of the nation, though, Oregonians shot down Proposition 74, choosing not to regulate medical marijuana in a disappointing outcome. And in what was probably the most closely watched question on any ballot, California shot down Proposition 19, postponing the complete legalization of marijuana, for now at least. Although these two propositions both lost due to a severe lack of voter turnout, regardless of vocal support, they represent a new era in this country when the discussion of legalization is no longer viewed as a fringe argument. Ben Panish East Falmouth [end]
A Look at Our Favorite Plant With the elections this week, there are the usual controversial debates about taxes, abortion and health care. Yet one issue a lot of us have been casually throwing around is the idea presented by California's Proposition 19, which would essentially legalize marijuana. In addition, there was the unbinding question 4 on the Massachusetts ballot, which asks if our marijuana policy should be reevaluated, so this issue of legalizing marijuana is closer to home than we may think. [continues 635 words]
Since 2000, Massachusetts voters have yet to see a ballot question they dislike on easing restrictions on marijuana, and Tuesday's election proved no exception in four local state representatives' districts. Residents approved nonbinding measures urging their legislators to support medical marijuana in state Rep. Jennifer Callahan's district and in the district occupied until earlier this year by Rep. Richard Ross. Voters backed measures calling for state Rep. Kate Hogan, D-Stow, and Tom Conroy, D-Wayland, to support marijuana's full legalization, regulation and taxation. [continues 573 words]
This concerns Clive McFarlane's column, "How cool is 13th Dist. to pot?" (Telegram & Gazette, Oct. 27). If health outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms, marijuana would be legal. Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. Marijuana can be harmful if abused, but jail cells are inappropriate as health interventions and ineffective as deterrents. The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican immigration during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the American Medical Association. Dire warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages have been counterproductive at best. White Americans did not even begin to smoke pot until a soon-to-be entrenched federal bureaucracy began funding reefer madness propaganda. [continues 75 words]
Another reason to re-legalize the plant cannabis for sick citizens that doesn't get mentioned ("Marijuana questions on some local ballots," Oct. 24) is because it is Biblically correct, since God indicates He created all the seed-bearing plants saying they are all good, on literally the very first page (see Genesis 1:11-12 and 29-30). The only Biblical restriction placed on cannabis is that it be accepted with thankfulness (see 1 Timothy 4:1-5). And, "But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (1 John 3:17). Further, many people know of cannabis as the tree of life and the very last page of the Bible indicates the leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations. Stan White Dillon, Colorado [end]
Brookline - Also on the ballot in Brookline is Question 4 (Question 7 in Precinct 5) which asks, "Shall the state senator from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would allow the state to regulate the taxation, cultivation, and sale of marijuana to adults?" While this is not a cut-and-dried issue, the TAB recommends a yes vote to this nonbinding question. The Massachusetts Legislature has for many years refused to even discuss marijuana policy. Two years ago, voters took the issue out of the Legislature's hands, approving the decriminalization of marijuana. Question 2 passed with 65 percent of the vote. Now it's time to take the issue to its next logical step: legalization. [continues 128 words]
Yes on Question 4 Also on the ballot in Newton is Question 4 which asks, "Shall the state senator from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would allow the state to regulate the taxation, cultivation, and sale of marijuana to adults?" While this is not a cut-and-dried issue, the TAB recommends a yes vote to this nonbinding question. The Massachusetts Legislature has for many years refused to even discuss marijuana policy. Two years ago, voters took the issue out of the Legislature' s hands, approving the decriminalization of marijuana. Question 2 passed with 65 percent of the vote. Now it's time to take the issue to its next logical step: legalization. [continues 128 words]
I called the three men - John Mahoney, Paul Franco and Ron Madnick - vying to be the people's choice for state representative in the 13th Worcester District, to ask if it would be cool for members of their constituency to smoke a little marijuana, blow a blunt, puff some ganja now and then for their individual health. I raised the question because Central Massachusetts residents in the 13th, the 18th and the 1st Hampden districts will this year have the chance to vote on a ballot question asking whether their state representative should be instructed to vote in favor of "legislation that would allow patients, with their doctor's written recommendation, to posses, grow and purchase marijuana for medical use?" [continues 524 words]
On Nov. 2, residents of California will vote on whether to approve Proposition 19, which would legalize limited recreational use and growth of marijuana for anyone over 21. The law would also allow the government to license distributors to sell limited amounts of marijuana within state borders. Proposition 19 would limit personal possession to one ounce or less and restrict growth to no more than 25 square feet of cannabis, though the law allows for the local government to authorize the production of larger amounts of marijuana, including commercial production. [continues 570 words]
Marblehead - Movies making light of potheads and "getting high" have become commonplace, but a ballot question Swampscoitt voters will be asked for a serious opinion on Nov. 2 as to whether marijuana should be legalized. Posed as Question 4 on the ballot, the non-binding referendum will ask voters in the 7th Essex (Salem) and 8th Essex (Swampscott, Marblehead and part of Lynn) if they think their lawmakers should enact legislation that would allow the state to regulate the taxation, cultivation and sale of marijuana to adults. [continues 773 words]
Advocates Would Legalize Use for Medical Purposes QUINCY -- Five South Shore communities are among 73 Massachusetts cities and towns where voters will find public policy questions about marijuana on the November ballot. Question 5 on the ballots in Carver, Hingham, Hull, and Scituate's Precinct 3 and Question 4 in Cohasset address marijuana use for medical purposes. Voters will be asked if they want to instruct their state representative to vote for legislation that would allow patients or their caregivers with a doctor's written recommendation to possess and grow marijuana. [continues 221 words]
Years ago, if you had asked me about how I felt about medical marijuana, I would have laughed and asked what possible medical benefit could there be. Since then, I have seen and experienced a lot of stuff. I watched my mother struggle with stage four lung cancer. They knew she wasn't going to survive. She suffered through a lot of pain and eventually stopped eating. I can not help but wonder if maybe she would have survived longer with medical marijuana. [continues 182 words]
To the editor: The Salem News reported on Oct. 15 that Rep. Ted Speliotis is leaning toward support of a bill to legalize and tax marijuana. He further said, "I don't buy into, 'It's an entry-level drug.'" I would like to know if Speliotis has spoken to heartbroken parents whose narcotic-addicted sons or daughters were introduced to the drug world by first using marijuana. My personal experience in conducting group and individual counseling with drug addicts and adult probationers convicted of drug-related felonies, and, as a secondary-school psychologist, talking with high school students, is that for many of them marijuana was their initial drug experience. I have served on governor-appointed task forces in Texas and Georgia to formulate drug prevention and treatment policies. [continues 264 words]
Brookline -- On Nov. 2, Brookline and Newton voters will have a nonbinding question on our ballots asking whether we support a bill that would legalize, regulate and tax cultivation, and sale of marijuana for nonmedical purposes. As a parent, taxpayer and lawyer with a career in criminal justice administration and mental health law, I recommend a "yes" vote. Two years ago, we voted to reform cannabis prohibition, despite the opposition ofstate prosecutors, the attorney general and governor to relaxing pot laws. We voted to enact decriminalization, ending the risk of detention and career-damaging criminal records for possessing up to an ounce of marijuana. Seventy-four percent of Brookline voters supported the initiative, compared to a 65 percent "yes" vote statewide. [continues 358 words]
Marblehead -- Movies making light of potheads and "getting high" have become commonplace, but a ballot question Marblehead voters will be asked for a serious opinion on Nov. 2 as to whether marijuana should be legalized. Posed as Question 4 on the ballot, the non-binding referendum will ask voters in the 7th Essex (Salem) and 8th Essex (Swampscott, Marblehead and part of Lynn) if they think their lawmakers should enact legislation that would allow the state to regulate the taxation, cultivation and sale of marijuana to adults. [continues 945 words]
Inside Massachusetts
