ACTIVISTS LOOK TO ADVANCE MARIJUANA REFORM LEGISLATION

GEORGETOWN -- The Massachusetts Cannabis Convention resolved that
"noncommercial cultivation for personal use is a human right and is
not to be taxed" at a meeting in Georgetown last weekend.

More than 50 marijuana reform activists from around the state
attended the convention called by the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform
Coalition (Mass Cann), a state affiliate of the National Organization
for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Before the resolution, those in attendance exchanged ideas on
advancing marijuana law reform.

Terry Franklin of Amherst spoke about FreedomBusCaravan,org, an
activist plan for the presidential primary season in New Hampshire.

Matt Allen of Boston spoke about the activities of
MassCompassion.org. He identified Speaker of the House, Robert DeLeo
as the roadblock to reforming the Weld administration-approved
medical marijuana law so that patients would not need a federally
approved supply, which is not a requirement in any of the laws
approved in 15 states and the District of Columbia since passage of
the Massachusetts Therapeutic Research Act.

The results of the legalization public policy questions that appeared
on the ballot in one Senate and eight House Districts, which were
released last week, show that a majority of the more than 200,000
voters polled support regulation and taxation of cannabis commerce in
Massachusetts.

The group also discussed anticipated legislation intended to gut
Question 2, an act establishing a sensible state marijuana policy
approved by more than 63 percent of voters in the 2008 election.