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 Question
3 passed as a ballot initiative and allows for the physician-authorized
use of cannabis as a therapeutic option for qualified patients.
The Commonwealth's Department of Public Health has until May 1, 2013 to
devise the rules and regulations for implemention. Three "listening
sessions" are scheduled statewide. Other organizations are holding
information sessions as well. The Marijuana Policy Project is a
nonprofit founded in 1995 to reform US marijuana laws provides a
history of reforming marijuana laws in Massachusetts.
Question 3 Approved by Voters
On November 6, 2012, 63% Massachusetts state voters approved Question
3, ‘An Initiative Petition for a Law for the Humanitarian Medical Use
of Marijuana,’ which allows the Bay State to protect the rights of
patients whose doctors recommend medical marijuana.
View Question 3 Complete Ballot Document
The marijuana law went into effect on January 1, 2013 making
Massachusetts the
18th state to allow for the physician-authorized use of cannabis as a
therapeutic option for qualified patients. The Commonwealth joins
neighboring states Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont, all
which have previously approved legal cannabis therapy.
The new law eliminates statewide criminal and civil penalties related
to the possession and use of up to a 60-day supply of cannabis by
qualified patients who possess a state authorized "registration card."
The law also establishes a state-run patient registry and the creation
of up to 35 state-licensed, nonprofit "medical marijuana treatment
centers."
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts must issue regulations for the
creation of the treatment centers within the first year after the law's
implementation. Extenuating circumstances, "financial hardship," allows
for individual patients to privately cultivate limited amounts of
cannabis. Or they can designate a "personal caregiver" to cultivate it
for them.
May 1 Deadline for Issuing Regulations
Under the ballot measure approved by voters, the Commonwealth has until
May 1, 2013 to "get its act together." The Department of Public Health
(DPH) is the government agency responsible for issuing regulations,
registration cards and permission for medical marijuana dispensaries to
open. Until the regulations are in effect, no dispensaries will be
allowed to open.
DPH will be partnering with a wide range of stakeholders including
those in public safety, the medical community, municipal
governments and the public. Their goal is to put into place a system that is right for
Massachusetts.
Click here to see the official DPH announcement
Regulations will be developed by:
- working with stakeholders
- taking into account lessons learned from other states’ experiences
- gathering input from the public
DPH Schedules "Listening Sessions"
In the month of February 2013, the Department of Public Health will be
holding three statewide “listening sessions. Anyone attending will be
allotted a three- minute time slot to air their grievances or concerns.
The "listening sessions" are not the same as the mandatory public
hearings that must be held prior to the final drafting of the laws
which are due by May.
Worcester
Wednesday, February 13
2PM – 5PM
Worcester Public Library Saxe Room
3 Salem Square Worcester, MA 01608 |
Boston
Thursday, February 14
10AM – 1PM
Roxbury Community College
Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center
1350 Tremont Street |
Holyoke
Wednesday, February 27
1:30PM – 4:30PM
Holyoke Community College Kittredge Business Center
303 Homestead Ave
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Anyone, unable to attend, is welcome to send written comments and feedback to MedicalMarijuana@state.ma.us
Bach Schedules Education Forum
In advance of the DPH listening session to be held on February 14 in
Boston, the Boston Alliance for Community Health is holding a free
education forum on February 12, 2013 at the Dorchester House
Multi-Service Center. The purpose is to provide an understanding
of the law for anyone who plans to attend the listening session,
thereby giving the public a better opportunity for providing input.
Free Educational Forum Medical Marijuana Law in Boston
Tuesday, February 12, 2013, 6 pm - 8 pm
Dorchester House Multiservice Center
1353 Dorchester Avenue, Field's Corner, Dorchester
(a few blocks from Fields Corner Red Line T Stop)
The Medical Marijuana Law was passed by referendum in November 2012.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and local
authorities are writing regulations for implementation that are due by
May 1, 2013
MDPH will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February 14, 10 a.m.
to 1 p.m. at Roxbury Community College Reggie Lewis Track &
Athletic Center, 1350 Tremont St., Boston
At this forum you will learn from experts:
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What the law says and what the law does not say
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Potential Health Impacts for Youth
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Local Options to Address Youth Health Impacts and Other Public Health Issues:
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Boston Public Health Commission Strategies
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Zoning Strategies
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Local Law Enforcement Issues
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Financial Implications of the Law
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Environmental Impact on Neighborhoods of Growing Marijuana
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Colleges and Universities: possession on campuses
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Advocacy Options
For more information: David Aronstein
617-279-2240 ext 509
daronstein@hria.org or www.bostonalliance.org
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History of Marijuana Laws in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The Marijuana Policy Project is a nonprofit founded in 1995 to reform
US marijuana laws. Their actions include lobbying for legislation and
running ballot initiative campaigns to allow seriously ill patients the
use of medical marijuana and to replace marijuana prohibition with a
sensible system of regulation. They also build coalitions of supportive
individuals and organizations to advocate on behalf of marijuana policy
reform.
The MPP website provides a state-by-state history of progress towards
effective marijuana regulation. Marijuana reform in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts began on November 4, 2008 when Massachusetts became the
first state to remove the possibility of jail time for some marijuana
possession. This was done by voter initiative with the Marijuana
Project's campaign committee spearheading the effort. As a result
possession of an ounce or less of marijuana became a civil infraction
punishable only by a $100 fine and forfeiture of the marijuana.
In April 2011, the Supreme Judicial odor Court ruled that the owner of
marijuana emanating from a parked vehicle is not sufficient cause for
further police investigation. The ruling stated that police officers
lacked the authority to order suspects out of a parked passenger
vehicle based on the oder of marijuana because there was no evidence
that the suspects possessed a criminal amount of marijuana. Pursuing
suspects under these circumstances was deemed an example of pursuing
"decriminalize conduct with the same fervor associated with the pursuit
of serious criminal conduct."
Possession of under an ounce of marijuana remains punishable by civil
fine and the loss of the marijuana. Yet the prohibition and its
associated public safety behavior create costs for the community, in
particular, time spent enforcing marijuana laws instead of
investigating more serious crimes.
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Posted: February 3, 2013
Nancy J Conrad
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