GeorgetownMA – On Saturday, December 4, the Massachusetts Cannabis Convention “resolved that non-commercial cultivation for personal use is a human right and is not to be taxed.”

Over fifty 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, persons 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 (D – Winthrop), as the roadblock to reforming the Weld administration approved medical marijuana law so that patients would not need a federally approved supply, a requirement that none of the laws approved in 15 states and the District of Columbia since passage of the Massachusetts Therapeutic Research Act.

Those in attendance received the official results issued last Wednesday by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of the Legalization Public Policy Questions that appeared on the ballot in one Senate and eight House Districts; results that demonstrate a majority of the over 200,000 voters polled support regulation and taxation of cannabis commerce in Massachusetts.

Following a discussion about legislation to advance reform and the need to oppose anticipated legislation intended to gut Question 2, An Act Establishing A Sensible State Marijuana Policy, approved by over 63% of the voters on November 4, 2008 the talk turned “Al Smithing” marijuana from theMassachusetts criminal law.

As Bill Downing of Reading and Mass Cann board member explained, “The only model for ending a national prohibition is that that ended the “Noble Experiment” almost seventy years ago.  That process began in 1923, when the legislature of New York and its governor Al Smith repealed the state’s version of the Volstead Act.  The next great step was taken when Massachusetts, by initiative, repealed its version of the “Volstead Act” in 1930.  A little over three years later the Twenty-first Amendment ended the national experiment freeing the states to regulate and tax intoxicating liquors.”

As always Mass Cann wishes all members of the media success in their pursuit of happiness today and every day.

 

For additional information on legalizing cannabis go to:
https://www.masscann.org/legal-reform/60-politics/308-regulation-and-taxation-hearing-wrap-up

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