Voters in Massachusetts will likely face a question on the November ballot that would legalize the recreational use and commercial sale of marijuana in the state. Last month, Norwood leaders were among more than 200 people who attended a seminar that addressed the potential impact of this proposal.
The half-day seminar, entitled “The Impacts of Marijuana: Strategies to Address Related Health, Social and Legal Issues,” was held on May 13, at the Bank of Canton. The seminar was led by Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey, in partnership with many local substance abuse prevention coalitions, along with Walpole Police Chief John Carmichael and Attorney John Scheft.
Norwood Police Chief William G. Brooks III, who attended the seminar, has been vocal about his opposition to the proposal and said approving the bill could directly affect the town.
“A medical marijuana dispensary gets a head start, right in the November ballot question, if the voters approve the commercial sales of marijuana in November,” Chief Brooks said.“The [town] selectmen have voted to not oppose a ‘medical’ marijuana dispensary. I appeared before them and wrote them a letter [stating] that I oppose a dispensary, but they voted 4-1 not to oppose.”
The state has two open dispensaries from which more than 10,000 card carrying residents can now purchase medical marijuana. In order to obtain a medical marijuana card, patients must prove their residency in the state, and note the condition for which they are seeking the marijuana. State law mandates the condition must be deemed debilitating by a physician.
Brooks said the large quantity of certifications being issued by a relatively small number of prescribers in the state is indicative of an underlying problem in the current system, which he fears will expand to a larger population if marijuana laws were to become more liberal.
“I think that most of the medical marijuana push is a hoax,” Chief Brooks said. “I have sympathy for people who are truly ill, and I suspect that voters had those people in mind when they voted. We will see far more abuse than medical use, just as every other state [that has legalized marijuana] has.”
Proponents of the bill argue that recreational sales would increase revenue for the state, but reiterate that commercial prices must be low enough for buyers to purchase marijuana legally as opposed to going to the black market. Recreational sales would be taxed at the state’s 6.25 percent tax rate, in addition to an excise tax of 3.75 percent.
During the seminar, Morrissey noted Colorado is experiencing an adverse effect since legalizing marijuana more than a year ago, and that the state has not greatly benefited from increased tax revenue.
“The number of black-market seizures has gone up instead of down, the promised tax revenues have been cut by black market sales and disproportionate use of low-tax medical dispensaries instead of taxed retail,” Morrissey said.
If the bill passes, medical dispensaries would be the first facilities to legally offer retail sales in Massachusetts, which could occur as soon as the end of next year. At that time, anyone over the age of 21 could purchase marijuana, and residents would also be permitted to grow marijuana in their homes. Under the bill, no more than 12 plants would be allowed per household, and the maximum amount to be kept in a resident’s home would be 10 ounces.
While voters have a few months to consider the bill, Brooks said he encourages voters to do their research before casting their ballots, and that Massachusetts will follow suit with other states that have recently shot down similar proposals.
“The pro-pot folks just spent $25 million in Ohio trying to pursuance voters to legalize weed there,” Chief Brooks said. “Fortunately, the voters saw through rhetoric and voted it down. I hope the same thing happens here.”
Issue Date:
July, 2016
Article Body: