MASS SUPPORTS MARIJUANA REFORM LAWS STATEWIDE

Marijuana advocates and enthusiasts statewide rejoiced as
Massachusetts saw success for approval of several marijuana reform
public policy questions in 74 towns in the 2010 election.

Voters in 18 districts across the state were asked nine questions on
the use of medical marijuana and nine questions on the legalization
and taxation of marijuana for distribution to the public. The
questions showed that the majority of voters in Massachusetts are in
favor of medical use and the repeal of prohibition on sales.

Nine districts approved questions which would allow use of medical
marijuana by between 41 percent and 59 percent margins. This overall
approval of the medical marijuana questions may lead the Bay State to
join the 14 other states in which physician-regulated use is tolerated.

Voters in eight other State House districts and one State Senate
district approved public policy questions encouraging legislators to
develop regulation and taxation plans for marijuana. All nine
questions were passed relating to taxation and regulation by at least
61 percent.

The 2010 national election contributed to the approval of 63
marijuana public policy questions in total relating to
decriminalization, medical use, and legalization since 2000. The
average popular support for the 63 PPQs in total was at 64 percent,
according to Bill Downing of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition.

Downing said such policy questions help spur enthusiasm for putting
more binding questions on the ballot.

"For large fund[raising drives] you need to get interest involved,
and one way you do that is providing evidence that such an effort
would succeed," he said.

The questions target legislators of these districts and, such groups
as the CRC would hope, indicate that they should be supporting such policies.

Sometimes, explained Downing, the legislators are highly influential
people, such as Jeffrey Sanchez, who represents the 15th Suffolk
District and is chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Health.
Another legislator the group targeted was State Sen. Cynthia Creem of
the First Middlesex and Norfolk District, who is chairman of the
Joint Committee on the Judiciary.

The Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts asked voters in the First
Hampden State Representative District, 18th Worcester Representative
District, 9th Norfolk District, 14th Bristol District, 13th Worcester
District, and 2nd Bristol District the following question: "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?" All six districts approved the question.

The DPFMA asked the other districts if "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?" in
the Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket District, 13th Middlesex
District, third Hampshire District, and first Franklin District, all
of which approved the question.

The Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, commonly known as
MassCann, is the official state affiliate of NORML. Downing said
MassCann's philosophy is that "responsible adults should be allowed
to smoke marijuana without government interference."

MassCann also emphasizes the importance of keeping the public
educated on the potential benefits of cannabis. He appreciates the
"tremendous level of support" from Massachusetts voters on the issue
of marijuana reform laws.

Michelle Durant, a sophomore and active member of the University of
Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition said the results of the
public policy questions are "really, really great news for us."

"Even though Prop. 19 in California didn't pass, that means we get to
potentially be the first state to legalize," she pointed out.

Durant also noted that Amherst voted 75 percent in favor of the
legalization question.

In the future, Durant hopes to see the legalization of grow-your-own
marijuana brought to a ballot question for the town. Durant feels it
would "bring prosperity to the area." Durant notes the potential
beneficial contributions of cannabis such as the opportunity for
jobs, clothing, and what she called a highly productive alternative to paper.

The CRC sees legalization of marijuana coming in the near future.

"We see it for 2012; that's our goal. With the public policy
questions passing so well, it definitely gives us confidence that it
will pass in 2012 for legalization," said Durant.

Durant attributes the positive response to the marijuana questions to
Amherst being a predominantly liberal college town.

"A lot of people are waking up and realizing that it should not be
illegal, because it's a human right for us to be able to choose," she said.

Terry Franklin, who is also associated with the UMass CRC and an avid
marijuana reform activist, noted that, with the success of these
questions, "People are going to reevaluate policy when they see the results."

Franklin said he feels the issue is being discussed more than in the past.

"A lot of people in politics are looking at it, and a lot of people
in the legalization movement are very enthusiastic about the way
things are going."