cannabisnews.com: Voters Send Messages on Pot, Finneran and Casinos Voters Send Messages on Pot, Finneran and Casinos Posted by CN Staff on November 07, 2002 at 08:59:51 PT By Franci Richardson Source: Boston Herald Voters across the Bay State cast ballots Tuesday in overwhelming favor of relaxing marijuana laws, particularly regarding medicinal use, growth, and punishment for possession, one of a number of local referendum questions.``I expect the Legislature will take up the issue of decriminalization and I hope the city of Boston is going to realize that busting potheads should be a very low priority,'' said Bill Downing, president of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, which amassed hundreds of signatures that put three marijuana questions on election ballots throughout the state. Across the state, thousands of voters cast ballots on a total of 54 questions ranging from whether Everett would extend the two-year mayor's term to four, which voters didn't support, to millions of dollars for Prop. 2 1/2 overrides in several communities.Holyoke residents also supported casino gambling and voters in 18 districts ordered their representatives not to vote for Thomas M. Finneran for House speaker.Voters in 21 districts asked state representatives to vote in favor of legislation that would decriminalize marijuana, allow ``patients with certain diseases'' to grow and possess the drug, as well as allow state farmers to grow cannabis that contained less than 1 percent of THC, the active drug ingredient in pot.But Bill Breault, chairman of Main Self Alliance for Public Safety in Worcester, dismissed the significance of the non-binding questions and pledged to launch an all-out campaign against the movement if legislators give it any credence.``This is a dopey smoke-screen and nothing more,'' said Breault. ``When it becomes binding, then we will challenge and get out and fight any campaign to liberalize and legalize marijuana.''Organizers may have a hard time persuading lawmakers to support less harsh pot laws.State Rep. Robert J. Nyman (D-Hanover), pointing to his two daughters, ages 10 and 12, said last night that he'd have a hard time voting to decriminalize marijuana, despite the 9,455 votes to 6,326 victory in his district.``I had said all along that I really didn't support it because I felt it was putting us in the wrong direction,'' Nyman said, admitting he was surprised by the overwhelming support for the non-binding question.In Holyoke, nearly 59 percent of the voters passed a non-binding ballot question in favor of casino gambling in the city. It was the second time in seven years the question received support.``Philosophically, I'm opposed to casino gambling,'' said Holyoke Mayor Michael Sullivan. ``I think it's a tax on the poor. I've never had to stand behind one of the Kennedys to get a scratch ticket.''In 18 separate districts, voters gave Finneran a no-confidence vote in another non-binding ballot question that they hoped would prevent him from being re-elected as leader.``We've talked to Democrats and Greens, Republicans and Libertarians alike, and they're all opposed to Finneran as speaker,'' said Eric Weltman, organizing director of Citizens for Participation in Political Action.Source: Boston Herald (MA)Author: Franci Richardson Published: Thursday, November 7, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Boston Herald, Inc.Website: http://www.bostonherald.com/Contact: letterstoeditor bostonherald.comRelated Articles & Web Site:MassCannhttp://www.masscann.org/Voters to Weigh in on Decriminalizing Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14642.shtmlBoxford Faces Question on Marijuana Law http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14641.shtmlBallot To Include Pot Question http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13903.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by afterburner on November 07, 2002 at 10:32:51 PT: Like friendly green jello. We've got the heartland in a squeeze play now: east coast patriots in Massachusetts championing reform while the west coast in San Francisco moves toward making medical cannabis business-as-usual. The more the antis try to squeeze the truth out of the cannabis reform movement, the more it slips between their fingers like a handful of jello. ego destruction or ego transcendence, that is the question. Jah live, children, yeah. Jah Jah live, children, yeah, Bob Marley, of course. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by TroutMask on November 07, 2002 at 09:18:30 PT Ah, the silver linings... See, there were some significant victories on Tuesday. I hope the anti's are stupid enough to believe we are defeated and this issue is now going to go away. On the contrary, "We have not yet begun to fight".-TM [ Post Comment ] Post Comment