Question 3: Allowing marijuana for medical use Pembroke — The Nov. 6 election ballot has three questions. Information on Question 3 from Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin’s website, www.sec.state.ma.us, reads as follows — “This proposed law would eliminate state criminal and civil penalties for the medical use of marijuana by qualifying patients. To qualify, a patient must have been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition, such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV-positive status or AIDS, hepatitis C, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS or multiple sclerosis. The patient would also have to obtain a written certification, from a physician with whom the patient has a bona fide physician-patient relationship, that the patient has a specific debilitating medical condition and would likely obtain a net benefit from medical use of marijuana.” “A yes vote would enact the proposed law eliminating state criminal and civil penalties related to the medical use of marijuana, allowing patients meeting certain conditions to obtain marijuana produced and distributed by new state-regulated centers or, in specific hardship cases, to grow marijuana for their own use. A no vote would make no change in existing laws.” Representatives on each side of the issue have been invited to submit columns in support of their position.
Yes — ‘Medical marijuana saved my life’ By Jerry Smith I am a paraplegic but thanks to medical marijuana my physical condition no longer defines who I am. After surviving a horrible car accident I was left paralyzed, and as a result of my injury I lost my job in the construction industry as well as my home. Living in constant pain I endured muscle spasms so severe I was sometimes ejected from my chair onto the floor. The medications prescribed to me never truly alleviated my symptoms and I suffered brutal side effects like bladder spasms that caused incontinence, and I soon was unable to venture outside the four walls of my bedroom. Recognizing my diminishing quality of life, my doctor recommended that I educate myself on the unique benefits of medical marijuana. At first I was hesitant. I have three children and did not want to send the wrong message. After having an honest conversation with them concerning the differences between medicinal and recreational drug use and doing the research, I decided to try medical marijuana about four months ago. The relief it brought me was life changing. My spasms have subsided and I have been able to decrease my use of some narcotics and end the use of others completely. Since I am no longer taking OxyContin I have more energy and am less likely to have bowel obstructions, which can be fatal for someone with paralysis. I truly believe that medical marijuana My friends and family have noticed the dramatic improvement in my condition. One year ago, I was unlikely to leave my house more than once a week. Today, I am involved in my teenagers’ lives, attending their softball games and music concerts, something I did not think I would be able to do after I lost the use of my legs. I consider myself the luckiest guy in the world. This will be the safest medical marijuana law in the country. Massachusetts will keep a centralized database of all patients enrolled in the program and the doctors who write recommendations, aiding enforcement. The initiative will also create a new felony including five years in prison for anyone who defrauds the system. While I have regained my life, it is frightening that I am forced to put myself at risk to obtain my medicine. Please vote yes on 3 in support of compassion for patients like me. Jerry Smith is a medical marijuana patient who lives in Fall River
No — Don’t let Massachusetts go to pot By Heidi Heilman Ballot Question 3 should be making Massachusetts citizens angry. Supporters say it’s about allowing our chronically ill legal access to marijuana as medicine. But the loopholes would make Massachusetts look exactly like California within a few years. The more voters understand the details of Question 3, and what marijuana treatment centers (aka pot shops) are doing in other states, the more they don’t want to open up Massachusetts to the increased crime, violence, school truancy, and community decay such systems breed. Question 3 puts no limit on which symptoms or conditions can be treated with pot. It allows people to grow pot in their homes and calls for opening 35 pot shops around the state, just as a starting point in the first year. It also allows a “patient” to carry hundreds of joints on their person. In California, pot shops are everywhere, selling raw pot and all manner of marijuana-infused foods, candies and beverages. Last month, due to public concern and hazard issues, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to ban all pot shops within city limits. Even in Berkeley, Calif. — famous for its liberal stand for recreational drug use — the zoning board unanimously declared a pot dispensary a “public nuisance.” In states that have a medical marijuana law, less than 1 percent of “patients” have chronically ill conditions. Most purchasers are young, healthy and struggling with substance abuse. In a drug treatment center in Colorado, 74 percent of addicted teens received their pot from a medical marijuana cardholder an average of 50 times. Ballot Question 3, allowing “patients” to walk around with hundreds of joints, practically begs them to sell their pot for personal, illicit profit. And under Question 3, not one dime of pot sales will be taxed. In fact, the industry will cost Massachusetts taxpayers money to create a new government agency to oversee and regulate the unique, separate state “pharmaceutical” system where pot shops could be owned and operated by anyone 21 years or older with not a drop of special training — including a high school diploma. The Massachusetts Medical Society, comprised of 24,000 physicians, opposes Question 3, noting it would legalize a controlled narcotic in a way that will lead directly to heightened abuse among users at an earlier and earlier age. Question 3 is poorly framed and does not serve the public’s interest or health. Vote no on Question 3 Nov. 6. Heidi Heilman is president of mavotenoonquestion3.com and the Massachusetts Prevention Alliance.
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