Should Massachusetts allow marijuana to be used and grown for medicinal purposes?
That's one question voters in the Commonwealth will decide on when they cast ballots in November.
The ballot initiative calls for Massachusetts to allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to patients with chronic medical problems. It also calls for treatment centers to be created to cultivate and distribute the drug.
It isn't the first time Massachusetts voters have been asked to weigh in on marijuana law changes. In 2008, voters approved an initiative that reduced possession of small amount of marjuana from a criminal offense to a fine.
Attorney General Martha Coakley, the state's top law enforcement official, said in April that, if passed, the initiative is "going to cause a huge headache making sure it’s not abused." Still, her office was neutral on the initiative, she said.
Do you support medical marijuana in Massachusetts? Let us know by posting a comment below.
Paul
12:22 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Contrary to popular/pothead folklore, canibus is very dangerous and accumulates over time in the brain causing severe problems with brain function. While it depresses and renders users less violent than alcohol, it has very very deleterious physical effects over many years of useage. Even in California, the land of fruits and nuts and dopers, authorities are closing down the newly minted "medical marijuana" store fronts. Smoke is SMOKE! It rots the lung and causes cancer! Possession of small amounts of marijuana should NEVER result in jail time.... nor should DUI incidents that DO NOT result in physical injury. BOTH, however, should result in losing one's license for a year or more!!! Medical marijuana is just a hippie ploy for the lazy dopers to do what they want! They will do it anyway so why bother!!! I do NOT support medical marijuana NOR do I support bars in Arlington.
inthegloaming
6:30 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
May be dangerous, but if you've got a chronic/debilitating condition -- HIV for example -- and it helps, who cares? It's all about what works for now.
I don't have an opinion either way, as I'm NOT A doctor or a researcher -- btw, where's your research backup for your claims? -- but I am concerned that most of the negative votes for this are from people who hear the word "marijuana" and kneejerk react by thinking all those who want or need it are "fruitsnutsdopershippieslazy" etc. Not exactly an open mind to weigh the facts.
Shaun
2:49 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
You make a good initial point about smoking in general but lost all credibility when launching into the same old tired "hippie ploy for...lazy dopers" There are many hippies both in Arlington and other towns who are part of the community, working to support local farms, working to support green space and parks, working to feed the hungry, working to support the education, working to support a vibrant art, music and cultural scene. And yes for the record I do oppose more bars in Arlington. Drinks over dinner or a music performance is one thing but the center is already overrun with drunks from sun up to sun down who have nothing better to do than make life difficult for everyone else. I am also opposed to pot heads doing likewise but again your equating one with the other doesn't make a valid point.
Donald Mei
12:33 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
How dangerous pot is to the smoker is irrelevant. Its not Government's job to protect us from ourselves. Government's job is to protect us from others. In other words, does THC affect people in a way that makes them dangerous to others.
If we use alcohol as a "line in the sand", we can come to some conclusions. i.e. are drunk people more dangerous than high people? I'd say the answer is a definite yes. People who are high tend to be quiet, almost passive. THC does not lower your inhibitions. Unlike alcohol it doesn't make some people violent.
Finally, unlike alcohol, THC is not chemically addictive.
So where's the problem? Its less destructive than alcohol and poses even less of a threat to people around the person who is using the drug.
I don't get it.
Paul
1:07 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Enough of the government finding ADDITIONAL ways to TAX us out of existence! The OVER prescribing of drugs and "medical marijuana" isn't a reason to call it positive or good. At all levels, government needs LESS money to force it to spend LESS! Peter must be growing some real WOWIE at home to make his aburd comments..... "government" equals the "good guys".... dude, you are flying HIGH with that idiotic comment.
inthegloaming
6:35 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Paul, how do you know for a fact it's "over prescribed"? As for absurd comments: if you can't rebut with some FACTUAL arguments rather than ad hominem attacks, if makes your argument specious.
Alan
2:31 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
The hippie generation has ruined this country and should be ashamed of what they have done. The pro-pot morons are going to come crawling out from under the rocks for this debate.
inthegloaming
6:36 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
heh. So will/have the anti-pot morons. :-)
Shaun
2:53 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Alan, be more specific. You are doing a fantastic job or ranting and raving but are not making a point. You have made a potentially unfounded observation which is lacking any kind of conclusion. How have "they" ruined this country? What have "they" done to be ashamed of? Go visit the financial district in Boston one of these days and see the Abercrombie and Fitch crowd toking up on their lunch breaks. It is more than just "pro-pot morons" who support this.
Donald Mei
12:35 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Alan,
Do you drink?
Do you have friends who drink? I don't mean one. I mean 2, 3 or 5 in a sitting.
Do you judge them? Are they morons?
Whats the difference other than that alcohol is so interwoven into every aspect of society that its impossible to ban?
Paul
3:23 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Amsterdam may be YOUR idea of community but it is a discusting and vile place with its legalized prostitution and drugs! So what are you advocating that the CVS in East Arlington or the Walgreens near the Center have large windows that OPEN once you see some illicit sex or dope you want to BUY? I don't think OUR town needs THAT!
Paul
4:47 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
I would rather read at a Dr Seiss level than think at that level while smuggly declaring to be an economist
Alan
4:51 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
I cry for what America has become Granny. Now go take a toke
Paul
6:17 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
But if Granny is. 76 or older under Obamacare she will have to wait until the board of 15 bureaucrats decides if she qualifies. Granny will have FULL Obamacare with a shiny plastic card ... But no care providers , a wait for permission to see a doc who wont prescribe meds and a mandatory end of life planning meeting with some 25 year old union member
Alan
6:26 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Scary stuff and the minions keep supporting this clown
inthegloaming
6:40 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Granny and Peter: let's meet at the Capitol and raise a glass or three to legalized pot helping people in pain, etc., live less burdensome lives. xoxoxo Born in 1950, but missed Woodstock :-<
Tim
9:56 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
What Pot isn't legal? I hear its the drug of choice up around the Stratton.
csj565
8:44 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
"Medical marijuana is just a hippie ploy for the lazy dopers to do what they want!"
good one @Paul... seriously, are you even aware that you have major issues? I certainly can't be the first to point it out!
Paul
9:04 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Yo CSJ... Liberals and Losers have "issues". Liberals and Losers always need to criticize happy, successful people. What i do have are the usual bills, daily problems of life , a great life free of addictions and full with, friends, family and Faith. Put down the weed and alcohol, stop ragging on people whose happiness makes you irritable and let the liberal ENVY go.
Shaun
2:40 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Liberals have very happy lives, liberals have the same bills, liberals have daily issues to deal with just like you do. "losers" come from all camps, liberal, conservative, democrat, republican and everywhere in between.
marianne
9:20 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Why do you have to be so mean?
Wind Dummy 25
11:45 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Great for hangovers, so I've heard, is that a medical condition?
You can spahhk up after a long night hopping the proposed Arlington bahhs!
Good luck with dat...
Paul
4:27 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Shawn, which I gather is not the true Irish spelling of Sean, life in Arlington is not according to the Porcellian Club at Harvard's debate rules...... you liberals all think in one narrow build by blocks formats.... there are stars in the sky, there are planets in the galaxy therefore St. Agnes' church is full of sheep.... that kind of non sequitur. Life is full of experiences and OPINIONS regardless of the "baselessness" you liberals use as criticism to dismiss others. Glad you are not for the drunks and not for the potheads! Your utopian hippie green types with their Squeeky Frome granny dresses and wild flower snacks are truly harmless nice people.
inthegloaming
12:24 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Paul: nor is life in Arlington according to the bigoted, narrow-minded, reverse-snobbishness "you conservative teabagger types" use to stubbornly refuse to accept any facts or opinions that do not fit your cast-in-stone biases. Cuts both ways.
Shaun
4:47 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
No Paul, I am Irish and it is Shawn. I'm quite happy with the extra letters thank you very much. And for the record Sean is /not/ the true Irish spelling, it is Seán, there is a significant difference in the pronunciation of the two with and w/out the accent mark.
Paul
6:06 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Shanty Irish no doubt with that novel spelling. IF you are REAL Irish you will understand: pug mahon cochmaudra!
Shaun
7:33 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Your spurious attempts at "REAL Irish" are cute, do they come with a fake accent as well? Alas, I do have a thing for the Irish brogue.
Tim
7:46 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Pot, Bars in Arlington . Is this world coming to an end ? Arlington will be filled with pot smoking beer pong drunks ....
Paul
9:34 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
No Shawn... They come with an Irish birth certificate and great grandparents from: Cork, Mayo, Kerry, Waterford before 1850.
Paul
9:37 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Peter, your Gaelich is faulty. What is needed is economic growth, a fed government 1/3 the size it is now and safety net programs all run at the State level
Peter Nixon
10:52 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Is ait an mac an saol.
inthegloaming
1:03 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
I'm not sure what kind of people the "OMG, next we'll have drunks throwing up in our driveways" zombie-apocalypse-sky-is-falling crowd know, but I have friends who can get together and have a few drinks and behave themselves like adults. Heck, my 22 year old nephew, who brews beer and likes to party with his friends on the weekends, will call his folks for a ride home from only 15 minutes away if he feels not safe to drive himself. I guess I just don't hang out with the "right" kind of people.
Paul
6:54 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Inthegloaming's hate speech as in "teabaggers". Is typical of toss-salad liberals. Like Sam Wilson of Arlington, the real Uncle Sam, Tea Party sympathizers are AMERICAN Patriots. Occupy types are the over educated riff raff who deficate in public, rape, destroy and dispise America.
Shaun
1:28 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
Paul, you were making such progress on being civil. And to think, here I was saving a happy face and gold stars from my toddlers school supplies as a reward. Oh well, I guess I'll get some chocolate milk and eat the cookie during break time.
Paul
11:25 am on Sunday, August 26, 2012
The DUI laws and enfircement are way overboard. Unless some one is injured, DUI shoukd be a fine and eventually suspension.
Rhonda
10:57 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012
Not if one of these people kills someone in your family Paul. What a stupid statement.
Paul
6:50 am on Monday, August 27, 2012
Rhonda... Break out your reading glasses girl! I said "unless someone is injured ".... Hello! The point being Over reacting and punishing people for minor infractions has put harmless people in jail for marijuana now has morphed to overacting and ounishing people for DUI. Of course, when a DUI driver causes damage or injury to others.
Christine
4:57 am on Sunday, September 30, 2012
The Government controls what you have to get i.e. shots, vaccines, thank this pill with a million side effects and it's "good" for you. We are suppose to be free, not 1/4 free. I think all the drugs should be legalized and that would help the economy. This way it takes the drugs away from the drug dealers. Marijuana helps people that are sick with cancer, it calms their stomach and helps them eat something, it's the same with Crones disease, and many others. These people are not worried about the future as they will probably not be alive but they are worried about being pain free now and have less suffering. I am all for it, I don't want these people suffering any longer. And I don't use drugs, and I don't smoke (which is a whole other thing). The let everyone smoke, even at one point telling them it was good for them and they know that cigarettes are bad and cause lung cancer and breathing problems yet they don't make them illegal.