The Initiative Petition for An Act for the Humanitarian Medical Use of Marijuana is bill number H. 3885. It has been referred to the Mr. Sánchez’ Committee on Public Health Mr. Sánchez’ Committee
BE VOCAL.
WRITE your state Senator and Representative and request that they support H. 3885 and “An Act to regulate and tax the cannabis industry” HOUSE BILL NO. 01371. It has been referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.
Representative Ellen Story (D-Amherst) is the lead sponsor. She is joined by Representatives Ruth Balser (D – Newton), Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead) and Anne Gobi (D-Spencer). Please thank them.
NORML has set up form letter you can send with or without customization, click here.
Three medical bills.
Two are identical:
Please click here to see the 32 of the 198 members of the legislature (there are two vacancies one due to Rep. Koutojian becoming Middlesex County Sheriff and one because there was a tie in the district) are sponsoring “An Act to regulate the medical use of marijuana by patients approved by physicians and certified by the department of public health.“
If your Representative or Senator are sponsors thank them!
CONTINUE TO BE VOCAL, if your Representative or Senator are NOT sponsors:
WRITE your state Senator and request that they support SENATE BILL NO. 1161, “An Act to regulate the medical use of marijuana by patients approved by physicians and certified by the department of public health“.
WRITE your state Representative and request that they support HOUSE BILL H00625, “An Act to regulate the medical use of marijuana by patients approved by physicians and certified by the department of public health“.
If your Senator or Representative is a member of the Joint Committee on Public Health to which the bill has been assigned insist that the Committee report the bill out favorably.
THIRD MEDICAL USE BILL:
Senate Bill No. 818 “An Act relative to the arrest and prosecution for the possession of marihuana for medical purposes.” Lead sponsor Senator Thomas McGee, (D – Lynn). Co-sponsors: Senators Steven Tolman, Cynthia Creem, Patricia Jehlen. This proposed law makes existing Chapter 94D effective by making existing Section 2‘s provision as to Department of Public Health an appendix (an organ of no apparent value)!
It has been referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.
THE LEGALIZATION BILL
Similar to last session’s bills S1801/H2929, the bill, if passed would:
immediately remove all of Massachusetts‘ criminal and civil penalties upon persons over the age of 21 (an adult) who possess or cultivate cannabis for their personal use and the sharing of same with other adults. When lawful under the laws of the United States it will also legalize the commercial cultivation, possession and distribution of cannabis by those who hold a valid license issued in accordance with regulations proposed in the bill.
THE TWO MEDICAL USE BILLS
Similar to last session’s bill, H2160, this sessions, “Act to regulate the medical use of marijuana by patients approved by physicians and certified by the department of public health” will:
I. Establish effective legal protection for seriously ill patients who use marijuana under the recommendation of their doctor.
• Allows Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) certified patients to possess and/or cultivate marijuana for medical purposes. To prevent abuse, limits maximum amount of useable cannabis (4. oz.) and plants (24) allowed for each patient. The plants must be stored in an enclosed, locked facility.
• Allows DPH to qualify a “care-taker” for each patient, who can assist DPH certified but disabled patients in cultivating limited amounts of marijuana for medical use.
• Creates an identification card system to facilitate marijuana law enforcement and quick determination of valid medical use.
II. Limit the conditions for which medical marijuana can be recommended.
• Limits the list of valid medical conditions to include cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or any chronic or debilitating medical condition or disease that produces wasting syndrome, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures, or muscle spasms, or other condition approved by DPH.
III. Create a highly regulated dispensary system.
• Allows DPH to permit a limited number of not-for-profit “medical treatment centers” where certified patients can access their medicine.
• Allows DPH to promulgate regulations governing the manner in which it will consider applications for registration certificates for up to 19 centers.
• Limits the amount of medical marijuana treatment centers can grow based on how many patients they serve and requires that medical marijuana be grown in a secure, locked facility.
IV. Not change existing statutes regarding recreational use of marijuana.
• All existing laws regarding the sale or distribution of marijuana will remain. Any sale of marijuana that is not between a qualifying patient, a DPH designated caregiver or DPH designated treatment center may be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
(Thanks to Matt Allen of The Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance for the summary.)
As expectedbad bills have been filed sililar to legislation filed last session.
Please be vocal contact your state Senator and Representative and insist they not support legislation that would change Question 2 or increase penalties under other laws for the cultivation, possession with intent to distribute, distributing and trafficking in cannabis.
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