A Week of Cannabis Coverage in the Commonwealth

Contributed by Steven S. Epstein, Esq. steve@masscann.org

Although we cannot find it reported anywhere else:

In the race to fill Richard Tisei’s vacated Middlesex - Essex Senate seat:

Democratic state Senate candidate Katherine Clark [http://katherineclark.org/] pounced on her Republican opponent Craig Spadafora [http://www.spadafora4senate.com/] saying at Wednesday night's debate [http://melrose.patch.com/articles/clark-spadafora-debate-wednesday-night] (9/22) he would support the legalization of marijuana and not tax it, sending out a press release on Thursday with comments from the Melrose and Wakefield police chiefs condemning Spadafora's stance.

The Melrose Patch [http://melrose.patch.com/articles/clark-slams-spadafora-over-legalized-marijuana-support] , September 24

The Cape Cod Times reported September 25 on the Public Policy Question on the ballot proposing legalization in Falmouth and the Islands in a story, Voters set to ponder legalized pot [http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100925/NEWS/9250330] . According to the story, Rep. Matt Patrick, whose constituent’s are not being polled sits firmly on the fence.

On the North Shore the Salem News, in a story also picked up by its sister paper the Gloucester Times, reported on the Public Policy Questions on the Ballot in the Seventh and Eighth Essex District also proposing legalization. In Some approve of pot legalization for tax revenue [http://www.salemnews.com/local/x124777479/Some-approve-of-pot-legalization-for-tax-revenue] , Representative Keenan (D-Seventh Essex) is reported to favor medical use laws, but is opposed to legalization. Apparently the reporters were unable to reach incumbent Lori Ehrlich (D-Eighth Essex) or her Republican opponent Katherine Kozitka 

While, “Republican Sean Bielat and U.S. Rep. Barney Frank disagree on military spending, Bush-era tax cuts and the handling of the housing crisis, but they share an unusual area of agreement - the legalization of marijuana.”
TheSun-Chronicle [http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2010/09/27/columns/7994872.txt] , Sept. 27 Reporting on the September 23 Nightside with Dan Rea Show on WBZ Radio.

September 28, theDaily Collegian [http://dailycollegian.com/2010/09/28/marijuana-legalization-proposition-to-come-on-election-day/] (UMass-Amherst) reported on the two public policy questions on the ballot for legalization in the 3rdHampshire and 1stFranklin House districts.

Meanwhile, many wicked local newspapers are republishing the Metrowest Daily News’Editorial of September 29 [http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinions/editorials/x399785283/Editorial-Marijuana-law-in-hands-of-voters] reflecting on California’s Question 19 which if it passes “if passed, will not just legalize marijuana possession, it will empower municipalities to regulate and tax it. The state Legislature won't be able to stop it. Any community looking to avoid a property tax hike could open up its own cannabis revenue stream.”

The same editorial closes by noting:


    Those questions are all non-binding, of course, and if past history holds, even the legislators in those districts will ignore the results. 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 decriminalizing of marijuana. Question 2 passed with 65 percent of the vote.


    If California leads the way, we wouldn't be surprised to see a binding legalization measure on the Massachusetts ballot in 2012.

Speaking of Question 19, the latest poll released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California [http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/survey/S_910MBS.pdf] shows Prop 19 ahead with 52% supporting it and 41% against it. The Field [http://www.field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/COI-2010-September-California-Marijuana-Law.pdf] poll released last weekend showed 50% support Prop 19.

You can check all the latest news and opinion Mass Cann collects by checking our website at:http://masscann.org/the-news/322-news-and-opinion-2010



A list of all the public policy questions concerning marijuana policy can be found at:
http://masscann.org/legal-reform/60-politics/356-how-we-are-doing-with-ppqs

*Note: MaMaMoJo has also published all the Massachusetts PPQs here: http://mamamojournal.blogspot.com/2010/09/hi-rachel-good-to-talk-to-you-this.html

**Mass Cann wishes all members of the media success in their pursuit of happiness this weekend and every day.


**MaMaMoJo seconds that emotion.
   Thanks, Steven S. Epstein, Esq, for contributing.


Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition\NORML
A State Affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
P.O. Box 0266, Georgetown, MA 01833-0366
781-944-2266 - http://www.masscann.org/

"We shall by and by want a world of hemp more for our own consumption."
John Adams as Humphrey Ploughjogger, 1763
***********************************

Helping Hemp Help Humanity

By John Dvorak, http://www.hempology.org/
     boston.hemp@pobox.com

Nowadays, everyone is trying to live healthier.  Getting more exercise,  eating more fruits & vegetables, consuming less (or no) meat and understanding "good fats" and "bad fats" is a growing national trend.  With the public's realization that healthy eating results in a higher quality of life, hemp is being cast as a "superfood" that contains many beneficial components.

  
Hemp foods are naturally high in protein, fiber, amino acids and essential fatty acids (the "good fats"), but they will not get you high.  Manufacturers ensure that hemp foods contain minimal amounts of THC, so you cannot fail a drug test from eating hemp. Hemp seeds contain several vital minerals including phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc.  They are also a source of Vitamin E and carotene, a pre-cursor form of Vitamin A.   So, it is obvious even to the oblivious that hemp seed is one of the most complete sources of nutrition known.  This makes the lore of Buddha subsisting on hemp seed a little less apocryphal.

 Hemp seed is gluten free and there have been no reported allergies to hemp.  This is especially important considering that more and more people are allergic to peanuts or are lactose intolerant.

A very important characteristic of hemp foods are the Omega 3 & 6 essential fatty acids (EFAs) that it contains.  EFAs are the building blocks of our cells and they may help a number of ailments, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure and diabetes.  More and more studies are highlighting the need to increase our intake of EFAs.  Most solutions suggested invariably involve eating fish (especially salmon) while hemp is a much more humane and "green" alternative.  You can help correct this omission by contacting media outlets and politely asking them to report that hemp foods are an excellent source of EFAs.

The increasing demand for healthy hemp foods is resulting in more acreage being grown in Canada.  Farmers will not grow a crop, especially a "new" crop like hemp, unless they have a contract for the fiber or grain (hemp seed) from a manufacturer.  Hemp foods have a higher profit margin than products such as hemp fabric because they require less processing and can be sold for a premium because of hemp's nutritional value.  As demand increases, manufacturers will contract for more acres of hemp with farmers, more products will be available for consumers resulting in more demand which results in more contracts for more acreage and so on.  Hemp foods may be more expensive than non-hemp alternatives but since hemp cultivation is prohibited in America all hemp must be imported from Canada, Europe or China.  If large amounts of hemp were grown in America, prices could drop considerably.  Every hemp food product you buy is therefore bringing us closer to the day that American farmers are once again allowed to grow this valuable and environmentally friendly crop.

Hemp food products can now be found all over.  In addition to Whole Foods Markets and The Vitamin Shoppe, the  Harvest Co-op Markets in Cambridge and Jamaica Plain have a great selection as do both of The Hempest's stores on Newbury Street and in Harvard Square.  If your local shopkeeper doesn't have hemp, let them know how nutritious it is and ask them to stock it for you.  Thousands of hemp food products are also available via the internet, including Amazon.com.  Just log on and start shopping!

Now that you know how good hemp is for you and where you can get it, let's discuss some of my favorite ways to enjoy hemp foods.

Hulled hemp seed, also called hemp hearts or hemp nut, give you that great hemp taste without the crunchy outer shell.  Eat it straight out of the bag, sprinkle some on your yogurt, cereal and salads or add it to dishes like oatmeal, salsa or vindaloo to give them a jolt of protein and nutrition.
Hemp protein bars are a great way to get your hemp on the go.

When you have one of Ruth's Hemp Foods' delicious "Red White & Blueberry I Want You To Vote Hemp" protein bars, you're not only giving your body a nutritious treat, but you're also furthering the efforts of Vote Hemp, a non-profit organization that is working to legalize hemp cultivation in America.

Several companies are now producing hemp protein powders, which are a great way to get the benefits of hemp in liquid form.  Mix them with juice or try one of Nutiva's flavored HempShakes.

 Hemp milk comes in several flavors including chocolate and vanilla.  Unsweetened hemp milk contains less calories per serving than skim milk, and when you consider that hemp milk is choc full of healthy goodness, you can rest assured that you've made the right choice.  Make sure you try all of the flavors until you find the one you like best.  Improvements are constantly being made if one doesn't suit your fancy.  While Living Harvest has several delicious flavors of hemp milk, my current favorite is made by Pacific Natural Foods.

 Manitoba Harvest's hemp seed butter, made by blending shelled hemp seed with hemp seed oil, is a beautiful dark green peanut-buttery spread that tastes great and goes well with crackers and sliced vegetables.   Have some hemp seed butter and blueberry jelly on toast for a tasty alternative to pb&j. 

Tempt brand hemp ice cream by Living Harvest is dairy free, cholesterol free, vegan and kosher, letting you  indulge your sweet tooth in a healthy way.  If you want to "hemp up" your breakfast, just use Hempola pancake mix using hemp seed oil and toss some hulled hemp seed into the batter for good measure.  While you shouldn't fry foods in hemp seed oil, it can be taken by the spoonful or substituted for vegetable oil in recipes as varied as gazpacho and granola.

With the recent passing of the Hemperor, Jack Herer, it is incumbent upon all of us to make that extra effort to educate ourselves and others about the many benefits of industrial hemp.  Ten years ago, the health aspects of hemp foods were becoming more well known but there were a dearth of products.  Now, tastier, healthier products are being introduced all the time, satisfying the public's increasingly health conscience needs.  However, the United States government must lift its cruel and unusual ban on hemp cultivation so that America's farmers, consumers and environment can reap the myriad benefits of this multi-faceted plant.  Every time you eat hemp food, you are making yourself healthier and helping hemp help humanity.

Hemp food resources:

Ruth's Hemp Foods - http://www.ruthshempfoods.com/
Nutiva - http://www.nutiva.com/
Living Harvest - http://www.livingharvest.com/
Manitoba Harvest - http://www.manitobaharvest.com/
Pacific Natural Foods - http://www.pacificfoods.com/
Hempola - http://www.oilseedworks.com/
Harvest Co-op Markets - http://www.harvestcoop.com/
The Hempest - http://store.hempest.com/catalog/

Lovin' Ovens In The Woods Photo Courtesy of Leslie Wagenheim

2010 Maine Medical Marijuana Conference Report

 MORE NEWS FROM AROUND NEW ENGLAND

- Contributed by John Dvorak http://www.hempology.org/
                                                  boston.hemp@pobox.com

In November 2009, Maine voters approved an initiative to create a regulated system of medical marijuana distribution.  Not-for-profit medical marijuana dispensaries are being licensed and regulated by Maine's Department of Health and Human Services.  To help pave the way for the implementation of the new law, the first Maine Medical Marijuana Conference was held in June at the University of Southern Maine in Portland.  Maine is taking a logical and open minded approach to this issue although people are understandably confused about all of the new rules and regulations.  The conference featured a variety of knowledgeable speakers who did their best to allay concerns and describe how the new program would work.

  
During the conference's opening remarks, Maine Representative Anne Haskell, a long time proponent of medical marijuana re-read the testimony that she gave during the 1990's that detailed how her daughter used marijuana to increase her appetite to help withstand the effects of chemotherapy during cancer treatment.   Haskell is actively involved with ensuring that Maine's new law is appropriately implemented.

  
Keynote speaker and MS sufferer Montel Williams began his talk in tears because his feet were causing him so much pain.
  From the audience, Mark Dion, Sheriff of Cumberland County, told Montel that it was OK to self-medicate.  As Montel took a quick puff, the audience rose in unison to applaud the bravery of both Williams and Sheriff Dion.  It was recently reported that when Dion's term of Sheriff ends, he will become a non-paid board member of the Northeast Patients Group which will be one of Maine's licensed distributors of medicinal cannabis.   It was very refreshing, if not a little discombobulating, to see a politician and law enforcement officer forthrightly working to implement the new law as opposed to the more common establishment knee-jerk reaction of just saying no to the fact that cannabis is a safe and effective medicine.
Throughout the day, a range of topics were covered including the therapeutic uses of cannabis, operating a dispensary, the role of being a caregiver and changes in law enforcement.  In a panel for health care workers, Dr.  Dustin Sulak noted that many patients use cannabis to reduce their intake of other powerful pharmaceuticals that have deleterious side effects. 

Dr. Sulak is part of a new vanguard of physician visionaries that not only recognize the numerous beneficial aspects of cannabis but also actively research its capabilities and advocate for its re-acceptance into the medical pharmacopoeia.
   
Debbie Goldsberry, Director of California's Berkeley Patients Group (BPG), was there to share her enthusiasm and experience with the fledgling dispensaries sprouting in Maine.   BPG is providing advisory services to the Northeast Patients Group, which should help it avoid some of the pitfalls encountered in California.

Overall, the conference was a tremendous step towards showing how this multifaceted medicine can be provided in a controlled manner.   Maine's regulatory framework can be built upon as we move towards a more compassionate society coinciding, not incidentally, with the ending of cannabis prohibition.

=-=-=-=-=-

The 6th National Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics

HEMPOLOGIST JOHN DVORAK REPORTS FROM AROUND NEW ENGLAND

http://www.hempology.org/
boston.hemp@pobox.com



The 6th National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics, held in Rhode Island in April 2010, was sponsored by Patients Out of Time and hosted by the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition.

Researchers are looking at cannabis in minute detail, discovering the myriad properties of this complicated plant.  Presenters marveled at the incredibly low toxicity and mild side effects of cannabis.  While the amount of research into cannabis has jumped significantly, its classification as a Schedule I narcotic is stifling in-depth research in America.

 Similarly, Dr. Lyle Craker recounted how the DEA has stonewalled his request to grow research grade cannabis at the University of Massachusetts since 2001.

Raphael Mechoulam, PhD, the great-grandfather of cannabis research, began his studies in Israel in 1963 with 5 kilograms of confiscated hashish.  He discussed the bi-phasic effect of cannabinoids: higher percentages in dosages may actually decrease their beneficial effects.  For years, Dr. Mechoulam bemoaned the fact that relatively little research was done into other cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol (CBD).  It was therefore encouraging to hear of the many advances being made into CBD research.  Dr. Mechoulam's research found that some cannabinoids act as a protective mechanism against osteoporosis, stimulate the healing of fractures and reduce the debilitating effects of Parkinson's disease.

John McPartland, DO, echoed Dr. Mechoulam's findings by likening cannabinoid receptors to a single "door" through which various "keys" such as THC and CBD unlock access into different "rooms" of possible therapies.  Dr. McPartland believes that if marinol is a silver bullet, herbal cannabis is a synergistic shotgun.

 Steve DeAngelo of Harborside Health Center has been screening cannabis for mold and identifying high CBD varieties which are being offered to Harborside's clients.   Just as DeAngelo's Ecolution hemp company helped legitimize the fledgling hemp industry in the 1990's, his Harborside enterprise is again setting the standard for excellence.

 Many veterans return from war with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). New Mexico was the first state to allow cannabis to treat this serious condition.  Michael Krawitz spoke of working with the Veteran's Administration to convince them to recognize cannabis in treating PTSD and to allow veterans to use their medicine at VA facilities.

Nurses are effecting change in several states. Mary Lynn Mathre, RN, an organizer of the event, noted that cannabis is not a gateway drug but an exit mechanism from opioids, alcohol and tobacco.  The American Cannabis Nursing Association helps nurses present a unified front against restrictions placed on therapeutic cannabis.

Despite impressive advances in research, the stigma attached to cannabis users still results in many doctors refusing to write recommendations.  Patients are justifiably afraid that they could lose their job or custody of their children if it becomes known that they use cannabis medicinally.  There are also biases at the institutional level: some hospitals will not submit their patients into state run medical marijuana programs.   These prejudices can not be properly dispelled until cannabis is removed from Schedule I, so that it can be studied to its fullest extent utilizing America's world class R&D resources.

=-=-=-=-=-

Mass. Marijuana Election History: 2000-2008

by John Leonard

Friday, September 17, 2010 2:41 AM

In the previous E-mail, I mentioned the past 2008 election and our huge decriminalization win.  I would be remiss to not also add our history of Public Policy Questions from 2000-2006.
We ran 45 districts over that time in urban, suburban, and rural districts.  Conservative and liberal.  Democratic and Republican districts.  We never lost one election - ever!

Representative Districts
District	Yes	No	Y/N%*	#	YR	Current Incumbent 2009-2010
Fourth Barnstable	14,315	8,804	62%	(5)	2000	Sarah K. Peake (D)
Third Berkshire	10,909	4,173	72%	(1)	2004	Christopher Speranzo (D)
First Essex	9,223	5,811	61%	(2)	2002	Michael A. Costello (D)
Second Essex	9,658	6,762	60%	(2)	2002	Harriett L. Stanley (D)
Fourth Essex	11,481	7,023	62%	(2)	2000	Bradford Hill (R)
Eighteenth Essex	8,397	5,681	60%	(2)	2002	Barbara A. L’Italien (D)
Second Franklin	5,965	5,471	52%	(7)	2002	Christopher J. Donelan (D)
First Hampshire	11,494	8,393	58%	(4)	2004	Peter V. Kocot (D)
First Middlesex	15,677	5,423	74%	(1)	2008	Robert S. Hargraves (R)
Sixth Middlesex	9,883	4,781	67%	(3)	2000	Pam Richardson (D)
Twenty-First Middlesex	14,154	5,915	71%	(1)	2008	Charles A. Murphy (D),
Twenty-Fourth Middlesex	14,551	4,705	76%	(1)	2004	William N. Brownsberger (D)
First Norfolk	7,425	5,173	59%	(6)	2002	Bruce J. Ayers (D)
Second Norfolk	6,817	4,559	60%	(6)	2002	A. Stephen Tobin (D)
Sixth Norfolk	10,791	4,506	71%	(1)	2004	William C. Galvin (D)
Seventh Norfolk	8,386	4,820	64%	(1)	2006	Walter F. Timilty (D)
Tenth Norfolk	11,568	7,625	60%	(2)	2004	James E. Vallee (D)
Twelfth Norfolk	8,538	5,388	61%	(6)	2002	John H. Rogers (D)
Thirteenth Norfolk	16,372	6,125	73%	(1)	2008	Lida E. Harkins (D)
First Plymouth	9,320	5,863	61%	(3)	2006	Viriato M. deMacedo(D)
Third Plymouth	15,215	6,956	69%	(3)	2004	Garrett J. Bradley (D)
Fifth Plymouth	9,467	6,339	60%	(3)	2002	Robert J. Nyman (D)
Sixth Plymouth	15,267	6,155	71%	(1)	2008	Daniel K. Webster (R)
Seventh Plymouth	13,784	5,902	70%	(1)	2004	Allen J. McCarthy (D)
Twelfth Plymouth	8,862	5,919	60%	(3)	2006	Thomas J. Calter (D)
Second Suffolk	4,227	2,914	59%	(3)	2002	Eugene L. O'Flaherty (D)
Fourth Suffolk	4,923	3,907	56%	(3)	2002	Brian P. Wallace (D)
Tenth Suffolk	7,734	5,164	59%	(3)	2002	Michael F. Rush (D)
Eleventh Suffolk	5,616	2,436	70%	(3)	2002	Elizabeth A. Malia (D)
Thirteenth Suffolk	3,672	2,627	57%	(3)	2002	Martin J. Walsh (D)
Fourteenth Suffolk	3,944	3,596	52%	(3)	2002	Angelo M. Scaccia (D)
Fifteenth Suffolk	6,429	2,423	74%	(3)	2002	Jeffrey Sanchez (D)
Seventeenth Suffolk	3,846	1,749	69%	(3)	2002	Kevin G. Honan (D)
Eighteenth Suffolk	4,202	2,109	67%	(3)	2002	Michael Moran (D)
Second Worcester	6,647	4,783	59%	(3)	2002	Robert L. Rice, Jr. (D)
Fifth Worcester	7,409	5,230	59%	(3)	2002	Anne M. Gobi (D)
Sixth Worcester	10,005	5,829	63%	(3)	2004	Geraldo Alicea (D)
Twelfth Worcester	12,618	6,008	68%	(3)	2004	Harold P. Naughton, Jr. (D)
Fourteenth Worcester**	6,717	4,197	61%	(5)	2002	James J. O"Day (D)
Fourteenth Worcester**	6,298	4,420	59%	(3)	2002	James J. O"Day (D)
*Calculated as a proportion of all persons actually voting on the questions, i.e., not counting blanks.
**In 2002 The Fourteenth Worcester voted on two questions.

Senate Districts
Second Essex	45,956	26,612	63%	(2)	2004	Frederick E. Berry (D)
Third Essex & Middlesex	36,505	19,752	65%	(2)	2004	Thomas M. McGee (D)
Second Middlesex	33,403	17,185	66%	(8)	2000	Patricia D. Jehlen (D)
Third Middlesex	38,187	17,674	68%	(8)	2006	Susan C. Fargo (D)
Worcester & Norfolk	48,739	22,611	68%	(1)	2004	Richard T. Moore (D)

Total voting yes - 546,261; total voting no - 300,903; Proportion voting yes across the state as a whole - 64.5%.
Policy Questions
Shall the (Representative or Senator) from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation...

(1)... 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?
(2)... making possession of marijuana a civil violation, like a traffic ticket instead of a criminal offense, and requiring police to hold a person under 18 cited for possession until the person is released to a parent or legal guardian or brought before a judge?
(3)... that would make 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?
(4)... that would allow the state to regulate the taxation, manufacture and sale of marijuana to adults 21 and older provided that outlets are state licensed, do not sell alcohol, and are not within 500 yards of a school?
(5)... that would allow patients with certain diseases, who have a written doctor's recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for their personal use, until such time as the federal government puts into place an effective distribution system for these patients?
(6)... that would make 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?
(7)... that would allow licensed farmers in Massachusetts to grow cannabis hemp (a crop containing 1% or less THC, the active ingredient in marijuana) for legitimate agricultural and industrial purposes?
(8)... that would make the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana a civil violation, subject to a fine of no more than $100.00. The effect of this proposed legislation would be to amend existing law by repealing all criminal penalties for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.
Results by Cities and Towns It is hard for anyone not a political junkie to know what these results mean in terms of cities and towns. Districts are often composed of bits and pieces of several municipalities and redistricting changes the definition of each District from time to time. There follows a list of cities and towns in which reform has had a electoral presence. Each municipality is followed by a letter signifying whether the question appeared in a Senatorial or Representative District. If the letter is followed by a number that number represents the number of Districts (S or R) in that town in which citizens voted on Public Policy Questions. If the letter has no number that means the entire municipality voted for reform. THIS LIST IS NO LONGER BEING UPDATED AFTER 2006 ELECTION BECAUSE QUESTION 2 won in all towns and cities except Clarksburg and Lawrence.
Abington (R), Amesbury (R), Andover (R1), Arlington (R1), Ashburnham (R), Ashby (R), Athol (R), Avon (R), Barre (R), Bellingham (S), Belmont (R1), Beverly (S), Blackstone (S), Boston (R9), Boxford (R2), Boylston (R), Brookfield (R), Brookline (R3), Cambridge(R1), Canton (R), Charleton (R), Chatham (R), Clinton (R), Cohasset (R), Danvers (S), Douglas (S), Dudley (S), Duxbury (R2), East Bridgwater (R), East Brookfield (R), Eastham (R), Erving (R), Framingham (R1), Franklin (R), Gardner (R), Georgetown (R2), Gill (R), Groveland (R), Halifax (R1), Hamilton (R), Hanover (R), Hardwick (R), Harwich (R), Hatfield (R), Haverhill (R2), Hingham (R), Hopedale (S), Hull (R), Ipswich(R), Kingston (R), Lancaster (R1), Lynn (S), Manchester-by-the-Sea (R), Marblehead (S), Medford (S), Medway (R1), Melrose (S1), Mendon (S), Methuen (R1), Middleborough (R2), Middleton (R1), Milford (S), Milton (R9), Milville (S), Montgomery (R), Nahant (S), New Braintree (R), Newburyport (R), North Andover (R1), North Brookfield (R), Northborough (R), Northhampton (R), Northridge (S), Norwell (R), Orange (R), Orleans (R), Oxford (R1,S), Peabody (S), Petersham (R), Phillipston (R), Pittsfield (R1), Plymouth (R), Plympton (R), Provincetown (R), Quincy (R2), Randolph (R6), Rockland (R), Royalston (R), Salem (S), Salisbury (R), Saugus (S1), Scituate (R1), Somerville (S1), Southbridge (R,S), Southhampton (R), Spencer (R2), Sterling (R1), Stoughton (R1), Sutton (S), Swampscott (S), Templeton (R), Topsfield (S), Truro (R), Uxbridge (S), Ware (R), Warwick (R), Webster (S), Wellfleet (R), Wenham (R), West Boylston (R), West Brookfield (R), Westhampton (R), Whitman (R), Winchendon (R), Woburn (S1), Worcester (R1).
 

Welcome To The Massachusetts Marijuana Movement Journal

MaMaMoJo's mission is first to follow the progress of the Public Policy Questions, all 73 of them, coming up for a vote this November on  Massachusetts ballots across the state, having to do with either medical use or the establishment of  tax and revenue schedules similar to those that regulate alcohol, so the state may benefit from the sale of legally marketed marijuana. These Questions will appear on ballots across the state thanks to the efforts of many dedicated activists. The PPQs are a a grassroots tool that we, the people have used to put forward to the voters those changes we want to see in the laws that still unjustly and unecessarily criminalize and marginalize marijuana and its advocates.

 MaMaMoJo will also be developing a serious but snazzy folkloric and historical ethnograph and ongoing activists' story collection project, a multi media anthology and archive, and if you're still reading, if you're with me on this, if you too have been working quietly behind the scenes for years on reforming the marijuana laws, or if you've been going public and vocal about it all, you brave, stubborn, thick-skinned soul you... despite the threats to your personal sovereignty and freedoms, inured to the scoffs and derisive snorts of skeptics and critics who thought this political dog would never hunt... Yes YOU, for being on the vanguard of this movement MaMaMoJo salutes you. We wish to offer our heartfelt thanks and praise for your all good work so far.  We're calling on you, dear colleagues, to chime in, Tell Us Your Part of the Story! Please, in your own words, or in a video, or a poem or song, a chart, a diagram, a rant or a rave:

How did you do it? How, after years of tacitly sweeping the issue of marijuana justice off the agenda and under the rug, were our state representatives sent such a huge wake up call and instructed to vote for legal improvements in the current policy? How is it that this time around, the brightest, greenest new light on the horizon this state has ever seen, Green Rainbow gubernatorial candidate Jill Stein, has commited to supporting the efforts of this  Movement?  How is it were you able to demonstrate to  Dr. Stein and the other candidates that a clear majority of voters all across Massachusetts   are anxious to repeal the old, outworn prohibitive policies of our state?  Ardent activist movers and shakers, rebels with a cause, not just this cause but any injustice in the system-- and friends of progressive causes everywhere want to know.

What is a Public Policy Question and how does it work?
How can ordinary citizens in our state get one of those questions up on a ballot?
How can the votes on a non-binding question wield so much clout in an election?


MaMaMoJo believes that the personal is political, and passionate, and makes a great story. The epic sweep and dramatic scope of our stories all woven together here on the blog, heroic tales of the door to door voter reg and petition drives that brought about the overwhelmingly positive public response; these true accounts of grassroots democracy in action and its startling effects will not only illuminate the workings of our PPQ masacree movement and all the diverse characters, the tireless workers who moved the PPQ campaigns so far along; our story so far will inspire and empower others to act bravely, to think forward and to change the things we can.

Are you a dreamer? A doer? And can't you feel the Massachusetts Marijuana Movement Mojo rising as we get closer and closer to voting day in November??? Rise up with our Movement! Speak Out! This is a Movement whose time is Now! MaMaMoJo wants your story, for the Movement, for the Momentum, for the sheer magical power of all our voices, chiming in together to Just Say Now.

MASSACHUSETTS MARIJUANA NON-BINDING BALLOT QUESTION NUMBERS 

Hi Rachel,

   Good to talk to you this morning.  I read through the last few days of E-mails after we talked.  Thanks for that nice E-mail.

MASSACHUSETTS MARIJUANA NON-BINDING BALLOT QUESTION NUMBERS

                      Over 1 out of 8 Mass. Voters will be voting on Marijuana Reform!

                Over 1 out of 10 towns in Massachusetts will be voting on Tax and Regulate!

       The Elections Division of the state of Massachusetts just released ballot numbers for marijuana reform ballot questions that are appearing in 73 cities and towns in the state under the state’s Public Policy Question provision allowing non-binding votes in legislative districts with requisite number of signatures of registered voters handed in. 

       Many of the districts where Tax and Regulate is being run in were carefully chosen for an expected favorable vote based on voting results in the 2008 statewide decriminalization initiative vote breakdown.  Many of the districts were medical marijuana is being run are in the districts of incumbents the most inimical to marijuana reform.  We will take this battle right to the doorsteps of the opposition and decisively win.

       These Public Policy Questions that Massachusetts activists are using are the grassroots method that we used in elections across the state from 2000-2006 to make way for the huge 65.2% win that we had in the 2008 decriminalization vote.  Our 100% record of wins in 41 past district elections tends to silence the opposition, bring newspaper editorial boards over to our side, and to alert national funders that marijuana reform is a winnable proposition for the Massachusetts ballot.   Our opposition was totally defeated in a devastating over 30 point loss.

      Thanks to Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition (MassCann/NORML), Suffolk University NORML, UMass Amherst Cannabis Reform Coalition, and the War on Lies and the many hours that hard working individuals put in to the effort.    

                          TAX AND REGULATE MARIJUANA LIKE ALCOHOL
QUESTION 4, 5, OR 6
Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would allow the state to regulate and tax marijuana in the same manner as alcohol?
Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket Representative District (#4, except Falmouth, Pcts. 1, 2, 5, 6, and Gosnold, #5)
1st Franklin Representative District (#5, except Sunderland and Whately, #6)
3rd Hampshire Representative District (#4, except Granby, #5)
13th Middlesex Representative District (#5)
                                                   *                     *                  *


                                 TAX AND REGULATE MARIJUANA     (VERSION 2)
QUESTION 4 OR 7
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?
1st Middlesex and Norfolk Senate District (#4, except Brookline, Pct. 5, #7)
                                                   *                     *                   *


                               TAX AND REGULATE MARIJUANA   (VERSION 2)
QUESTION 4 or 5
Shall the state representative 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?
7th Essex Representative District (#4)
8th Essex Representative District (#4)
3rd Middlesex Representative District (#4, except Hudson, #5)
13th Norfolk Representative District (#4)
                                              *                         *                       *


                                         MEDICAL MARIJUANA  (VERSION 1)
QUESTION 4 OR 5
Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would allow patients, with their doctor’s written recommendation, to possess, grow, and purchase marijuana for medical use?
2nd Bristol Representative District (#4)
14th Bristol Representative District (#4)
1st Hampden Representative District (#4, except Palmer, #5)
9th Norfolk Representative District (#4)
13th Worcester Representative District (#5)
18th Worcester Representative District (#4)
                                              *                        *                      *


                                         MEDICAL MARIJUANA (VERSION 2)
QUESTION 4, 5 OR 6
Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would allow patients, with the written recommendation of their doctor or other registered caregiver, to possess and grow marijuana for the patient’s medical use?
2nd Plymouth Representative District (#5)
3rd Plymouth Representative District (#5, except Cohasset, #4)

15th Suffolk Representative District (#6)

                      

                               Detailed information on Legislative Districts:

                          TAX AND REGULATE MARIJUANA LIKE ALCOHOL

“Shall the State Representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would allow the state to regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol?”

Will be on the ballot in the following districts:

-Barnstable, Dukes, & Nantucket State Representative District, Rep. Eric Turkington (D):  Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Gosnold, Nantucket, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, West Tisbury, and pcts. 1, 2, 5, & 6 of Falmouth.

-13^th Middlesex State Rep District, Rep. Thomas Conroy (D):  Lincoln, Sudbury, and Wayland.

-3^rd Hampshire State Rep. District, Rep. Ellen Story (D):  Amherst and Granby.

-1^st Franklin State Rep District, Rep. Stephen Kulik (D):  Conway, Deerfield, Leverett, Montague, New Salem, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Wendell, Whately, Chesterfield, Goshen, Huntington, Pelham, Williamsburg, Worthington, and Pcts. A & D in Belchertown.

                                 TAX AND REGULATE MARIJUANA    (Version 2)

“Shall the state representative/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?”

Will be on the ballot in the following districts:

-1^st Middlesex and Norfolk Senate District, Sen. Cynthia Creem (D):  Newton, Brookline, and Pcts. A, C, D, & E of Wellesley.

-7^th Essex State Rep District, Rep. John Keenan (D):  Salem

-8^th Essex State Rep District, Rep. Lori Ehrlich (D):  Marblehead, Swampscott, and Pct. 4 of Wd. 3 & Pct. 4 of Wd. 4 of Lynn.

-3^rd Middlesex State Rep. District, Rep. Kate Hogan (D):  Bolton, Hudson, Maynard, and Stow

-13^th Norfolk State Rep. District, open seat:  Dover, Needham, and Pcts. 1 & 2 of Medfield.

                                             MEDICAL MARIJUANA   (Version 1)

"Shall the State Representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would allow patients, with their doctor's written recommendation, to possess, grow and purchase marijuana for medical use?"

Will be on the ballot in the following districts:

-1^st Hampden State Representative District, Rep. Todd Smola (R):  Brimfield, Holland, Palmer, Wales, Sturbridge, Warren, and Precincts B & C in Ware. 

- 18^th Worcester State Rep District, Rep. Jennifer Callahan (D):  Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, and Pcts. 1, 2, & 4 of Uxbridge and Pcts. 1 & 2 of Sutton.

-9^th Norfolk State Rep District, Rep. Richard Ross (R):  Norfolk, Plainville, Wrentham, and Pcts. 3 & 4 of Medfield, Pct. 1 of Millis, and Pct. 5 of Walpole.

-14^th Bristol State Rep. District, Rep. Elizabeth Porrier (R):  North Attleboro, and Pct. B, Ward. 3 of Attleboro, Pcts. 2 & 5 of Mansfield, and Pct. 2 of Norton.

-13th Worcester State Rep. District, Rep.  Robert Spellane (D):  Paxton, and Wd. 9, Pcts. 1,2,3,&4 of Wd. 1, & Pct. 3 of Wd. 10 of Worcester.

-2^nd Bristol State Rep. District, Rep. Bill Bowles (D):  Wds. 1,2,4,5,6, & Pct. A, Wd. 3 of Attleboro

                                              MEDICAL MARIJUANA   (Version 2)

“Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would allow patients with their doctor’s recommendation, or such patient’s registered caregiver, to possess and grow marijuana for the patient’s medical use.

Will be on the ballot in the following districts:

-2^nd Plymouth State Rep. District, Rep. Susan Gifford (R):  Carver, Wareham, and Pcts. 1, 2, & 3 of Bourne.

3^rd Plymouth State Rep. District, Rep. Garrett Bradley (D):  Cohasset, Hingham, Hull, and Pct. 3 of Scituate.

15^th Suffolk State Rep. District, Rep. Jeffery Sanchez (D) (co-chair of Public Health Committee):  Pcts. 1,2, 3,5,6,7,8, & 9 of Wd. 10 & Pct. 6 of Wd. 11 & Pcts. 1,2,3,4,5,8, & 9 of Wd. 19 & Pcts. 1,2,& 4 of Wd. 20.  

                              Ballot Numbers by Town or City (73 municipalities total):
4-  Amherst
4-  Attleboro
4-  Aquinnah
4-  Belchertown
4-  Bellingham
4-  Blackstone
4-  Bolton
6-  Boston
5-  Bourne
4-  Brookline   (except Pct. 5 where it is Question 7)
5-  Carver
5-  Chesterfield
4-  Chilmark
4-  Cohasset
5-  Conway
5-  Deerfield
4-  Dover
4-  Edgartown
5-  Falmouth
5-  Goshen
5-  Gosnold
5-  Granby
5-  Hingham
4-  Holland
5-  Hudson
5-  Hull
5-  Leverett
5-  Lincoln
4-  Lynn
4-  Mansfield
4-  Marblehead
4-  Maynard
4-  Medfield
4-  Millis
4-  Millville
5-  Montague
4-  Nantucket
4-  Needham
5-  New Salem
4-  Newton
4-  Norfolk
4-  North Attleboro
4-  Norton
4-  Oak Bluffs
5-  Palmer
5-  Paxton
5-  Pelham
4-  Plainville
4-  Salem
5-  Scituate
5-  Shutesbury
4-  Stow
4-  Sturbridge
5-  Sudbury
6-  Sunderland
4-  Sutton
4-  Swampscott
4-  Tisbury
4-  Uxbridge
4-  Wales
4-  Walpole
4-  Ware
5-  Wareham
5-  Wayland
4-  Wellesley
5-  Wendell
4-  West Tisbury
6-  Whately
5-  Williamsburg
5-  Worcester
5-  Worthington
4-  Wrentham

 

John Leonard
toomuchfun33@hotmail.com

Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts 
www.dpfmass.org