cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Questions On Ballot





Marijuana Questions On Ballot
Posted by CN Staff on August 15, 2002 at 13:22:03 PT
By Mark Melady
Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette 
Two nonbinding marijuana questions will be on the November ballot in the 14th Worcester District, the result of a successful signature drive by local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition.Voters can express their preference on the issue of legalizing marijuana cultivation for medicinal purposes and decriminalizing possession of less than an ounce of the drug.
Ronal C. Madnick, executive director of the Worcester County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, said marijuana has proven effective in treating the symptoms of diseases such as cancer and leukemia and should be allowed with a doctor's approval.Criminal marijuana laws, said Mr. Madnick, "often impose arbitrary, harsh and cruel penalties for private conduct for which no criminal penalty is appropriate."State Rep. James B. Leary, D-Worcester, who represents the 14th district, was unavailable to comment last night. The district includes West Boylston and Ward 1, Precinct 5; Ward 2; Ward 3, Precincts 1, 3, and 5 in Worcester.Mayor Timothy R. Murray said he would be surprised if the ballot questions passed, but even if they did, he questioned the validity of a vote in one district."Until they can get a statewide question, it's not going to mean much," Mr. Murray said.William Breault, president and founder of the Main South Alliance and an ardent opponent of medicinal marijuana and decriminalization, said medicinal supporters failed to gather the 56,000 signatures needed to get on a the statewide ballot a few years ago."They came up woefully short statewide, so now they're resorting to small, feel-good ballot questions," Mr. Breault said. "I guess they can do that, but I don't know what it proves."He noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against medicinal marijuana and that the state Department of Public Health, once investigating medicinal uses, has been quiet on the subject."The DPH looked into it five or six years ago, and that went nowhere," he said. "It should be a dead issue, but they keep trying to back-door it. People around here will not go for legalization. They know marijuana is not neighborhood friendly."The question on medical marijuana reads: "Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to vote for legislation that would allow patients with certain diseases who have a written doctor's recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of cannabis (marijuana) for their personal use until such time as the federal government puts into effect a distribution system for these patients?"The possession question reads: "Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would make the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana a civil violation subject to a maximum fine of $100 and not subject to any criminal penalties?"Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA)Author: Mark MeladyPublished: Thursday, August 15, 2002Copyright: 2002 Worcester Telegram & GazetteContact: letters telegram.comWebsite: http://www.telegram.com/ACLUhttp://www.aclu.orgMassCannhttp://www.masscann.org/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by karkulus on August 15, 2002 at 16:40:36 PT
What it proves is..
                                                                       " They came up woefully short statewide, so now they're resorting to small, feel-good ballot questions," Mr. Breault said. "I guess they can do that, but I don't know what it proves."
                                                                                    It proves that it can be a campaign issue in upcomming elections.And maybe even a voter regestration issue..if they play it right. 
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Comment #3 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on August 15, 2002 at 16:04:51 PT
Marc Emery for mayor!
  No, people won't go for DECRIMINALIZATION because it is a FARCE, a SHAM, a MASQUERADE. As Marc Emery said, if the government is for it, it's got to be useless. Complete legalization and an end to the drug war is the answer, not changing the law so that those who can afford it will pay money to the state while those who can't afford it go to jail. Who pays for these people's incarceration? Legalize! Make money from cannabis via taxation, not penalization.
Prince of Pot - It's Almost Election Time
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Comment #2 posted by Industrial Strength on August 15, 2002 at 13:26:46 PT
back door beauty
that's the name of a horse I used to own, Ma'm.The Question Mark was emphasized.Pissah.
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Comment #1 posted by TroutMask on August 15, 2002 at 13:23:55 PT
...
"They know marijuana is not neighborhood friendly."Yeah, but prisons and drug dealers are! whoopeee!-TM
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