LOCAL BALLOT QUESTIONS SPEAK TO POT, NUKES

The people have spoken and they want marijuana decriminalized and available
for medicinal purposes, universal health care and the halt to the
controversial MCAS tests.

And, they said, do something about nuclear weapons.

The issues were some of the 25 local ballot questions in communities around
the state. Some, such as Proposition 2 overrides and changes in county
goverments, became law. Others, such as the marijuana and health care
questions, were nonbinding referenda directing state lawmakers to vote in
favor of such actions.

"We did it to find out how the people in the district really feel in a
blind poll," said Steven Epstein of Georgetown, a member of the
Massachusetts Cannibis Reform Coalition. "It just shouldn't be a crime.
We're talking about a substance we can be pretty sure both presidential
candidates have smoked."

The measure to ask lawmakers in Essex and Middlesex counties to introduce
decriminalization bills passed by overwhelming margins. A similar question
the group put on the ballot on the Cape to allow marijuana for medicinal
purposes also passed 62 percent to 37 percent, roughly the same margin as
the others.

State Rep. Shirley Gomes (R-Harwich), whose eight-town district was the
focus of the question, said she was surprised by the voters sentiment but
would not commit to following through.

"With the sentiment being expressed so emphatically, I have to be
open-minded," she said. "But can I vote for something that is against
federal law? I've never been faced with that before.."

In Arlington and Medford, voters directed their state representative by a 3
to 1 margin to support a resolution calling on the United States to sign
the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty of 1970.

State Rep. James Marzilli (D-Arlington) said he will introduce and support
the resolution because of the vote, because he believes in the cause and
because his wife is a member of the group that placed the question on the
ballot.

Marzilli acknowledged some may look derisively on the question but said
ballot questions are one of the best avenues for groups to open public
discussion.

"If people listened even just for a few minutes to facts surrounding U.S.
expenditures for arms, it will have served its purpose even if there a few
snickers in the background," he said.