cannabisnews.com: Pot Question on Ballot in Parts of E. Arlington





Pot Question on Ballot in Parts of E. Arlington
Posted by CN Staff on September 10, 2004 at 18:21:28 PT
By Roberto Scalese, Staff Writer
Source: Arlington Advocate 
Voters in Anne Paulsen's legislative district will have their say on medical marijuana in November.    The advisory question would ask the district's legislators to support legislation to allow marijuana use for chronically ill patients, asking should the senator or representative "vote in favor of legislation that would allow seriously ill patients, with their doctor's written recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for their personal medical use." 
According to Steve Epstein of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, helping the sick should take priority over punishing pot smokers.    "We want people who have a doctor's recommendation to use (marijuana) as a medication," said Epstein. "We hope the legislature sees the wisdom of adopting a law that's similar to ones in California, Washington state, Maine, Colorado."    This is only the third district in the state targeted for the medical marijuana question. Over the past three years, 52 districts have passed advisory questions supportive of decriminalizing marijuana. Epstein said the intent is to keep the issue alive and gather enough campaign funding for a statewide question campaign.    "It takes close to $2 million for a statewide ballot," said Epstein.    Decriminalization is different than legalizing marijuana use, said Epstein. The difference with decriminalization is anyone caught smoking dope would be given a ticket, like a traffic ticket, instead of being hauled off to jail.    Paulsen said marijuana use for sick citizens should not be a crime.    "We should try to give every advantage we can to people who have some kind of ailment that requires relief," said Paulsen, who represents Precincts 2 and 4 in Arlington.    Paulsen said she has co-signed legislation to allow marijuana as medication prescribed by a physician.    Epstein said the reluctance to even discuss medical marijuana or marijuana decriminalization at the state level is based in fear and because of the drug war.    "You would have to ask the Legislature about that. The district attorneys especially tell them, 'No, we have to treat them as criminals,'" said Epstein. "They're afraid."    Epstein said he feels most state representatives and senators are reasonable and understand decriminalization and especially medical marijuana use should be passed, but can't say so for fear of retribution from political enemies and district attorneys.    "If you get 100 of them alone and say, 'I won't tell anyone about this," they'd say, 'Yeah, we should give them a ticket, like in other states,'" said Epstein. Complete Title: Pot Question on Fall Ballot in Parts of East ArlingtonSource: Arlington Advocate (MA)Author: Roberto Scalese, Staff WriterPublished: Friday, September 10, 2004Copyright: 2004 CNC and Herald Interactive Advertising Systems, Inc.Website: http://www2.townonline.com/arlington/Contact: http://www.hiasys.com/contactus/contactus.htmlRelated Articles & Web Site:MassCannhttp://www.masscann.org/A Show of Support for Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19383.shtmlHigher and Higher: Reefer Sanityhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19323.shtmlLegalizing of Marijuana Use May Head To Ballothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19281.shtml 
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on September 11, 2004 at 22:40:51 PT
Related Article from North Shore Sunday
Rally ForthFriday, September 10, 2004Steve Epstein doesn't expect any major hang-ups between now and next weekend's annual Freedom Rally. By now, Epstein is confident that his mass meeting to generate support for the legalization of marijuana can pretty much run on automatic pilot. 
   Even under the influence of marijuana. 
   "After 15 years, it sort of runs itself," says Epstein, a Georgetown lawyer who is a longtime advocate for the reformation of marijuana reform laws. "There are some young folks who have become pretty active over the past five or six years. This old man isn't doing too much heavy lifting anymore."   Which may be true, but Epstein says he still has plenty of work ahead of him in trying to convince local lawmakers to rethink the state's current marijuana policies. 
   This November, voters in the 2nd Essex Senate District and the 3rd Essex and Middlesex Senate District will have their chance to chime in on a non-binding question that will appear on the ballot, asking whether their legislators should introduce legislation to decriminalize marijuana possession, making it like a traffic ticket ("Waiting to inhale," Sunday, Aug. 15). 
   Similar ballot initiatives were passed in Massachusetts districts in 2000 and 2002, but as of yet, few legislators have stepped up to support it. When asked if marijuana reform could ever be a reality if lawmakers have generally already made up their minds that pot-smoking is dangerous, Epstein says he remains hopeful. 
   "I don't know that that's the case," he says. "I expect there will be some positive feedback from it." 
   In the meantime, Epstein will carry on with his Freedom Rally, which will take place on the Boston Common on Saturday, Sept. 18. 
   Epstein says this year's theme - "Roll the Vote: Please Tax Us" - pleads with lawmakers to decriminalize marijuana and tax it, thus creating a new and significant revenue stream in the state. 
   "The theme isn't extremely different from previous years," says Epstein. "It's the same message that this is pretty much fiscal insanity. It's not just at all." 
   - Joel Beck Copyright of CNC and Herald Interactive Advertising Systems, Inc.http://www2.townonline.com/lynnfield/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=83784
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