Legalizing Marijuana in the state of Massachusetts

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Legalizing marijuana in the state of Massachusetts
In this paper, the purpose is to provide a comprehensive discussion regarding the legalization of marijuana in the state of Massachusetts. The state of Massachusetts strongly supports marijuana reform. In this state, over twenty marijuana dispensaries have been approved to be launched as major strides are being undertaken in the United States to make legal the weed that was once vilified. The state is joining twenty other states across the country that permit the usage of marijuana for medical reasons (Bednar 27). Voters in the state, in 2012, endorsed the usage of medical cannabis for over 34 dispensaries, although not over 5 are to be situated within any one county. A lot of potential users of medical marijuana feel happy since they would have alternative options to pain management. Many people believe that dispensaries would offer several choices that would be certified and safe, and not originating from the black market. Nonetheless, the Massachusetts Medical Society is cautioning that there is insufficient scientific information confirming that medical marijuana is effective or safe (Zemel 56). Although the state has legalized the substance for dispensaries to open for medical reasons, the push for recreational use is a very dissimilar case. In the state of Massachusetts, marijuana substance is quickly rising, and this is largely contributed by the voter-initiative process of the state's residents. It is noteworthy that in the last 6 years, Massachusetts voters endorsed 2 ballot questions on the substance. A 2012 measure permitted the usage of the substance as medicine. Four years earlier, a measure eliminated criminal penalties for the possession of little quantities of the substance (Sullum 25). Certainly, the drinking of wine on sidewalks or restaurant patios might still be subject to lengthy negotiations with neighbors, and the smoking of cigarettes might currently be prohibited in public parks of Boston. Nonetheless, that other funny smell that one detects across Boston is precisely what one thinks it is: many people smoke a lot of weed publicly in the state of Massachusetts (Bednar 28).
Activists of the legalization of marijuana have their eyes on the state of Massachusetts for the upcoming elections in the year 2016. This might be the year that the residents of this state will make their last push for the full legalization of marijuana. In the year 2008, voters in this state decriminalized the possession of little quantities of marijuana. This made the possession of less than an ounce of the drug punishable by a fine of $100 (Ross 36). The Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative, in the year 2012, passed with 63 percent of the vote. This made the state the 18th one in the country to legalize medical marijuana. In 2013 November, Bay State Repeal filed the paperwork aimed at putting the legalization of marijuana on the ballot in the year 2016. The objective of the campaign is to create the country's least restrictive and simplest solution for marijuana reform. The treasurer of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, Bill Downing, holds the belief that the campaigners for the legalization of marijuana have reason for being optimistic. A DAPA Research poll conducted in the year 2011 on registered voters in the state found that 58 percent support for the legalization of marijuana and regulating is just like other agricultural products with sales forbidden to persons who are underage; below 21 years (Hartman 73).
Voters in the states of Washington and Colorado in the year 2012 repealed their laws which prohibited marijuana, and opted rather, to tax and regulate the substance. Oregon and Alaska are anticipated to do the same in November. A legalization initiative in the state of Massachusetts is in the works (Ross 37). The Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative (MMMI) emerged as the 3rd question on Massachusetts's 2012 vote as an indirect state statute. It is notable that the measure permits marijuana to be utilized for medical reasons within the state. Backed by the Committee for Compassionate Medicine, Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance and the American Civil Liberties Union, the initiative was filed with supporters turning in the needed signatures to the office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts in the deadline of August 3rd, 2011. The signatures were required for the needed 10 fit voters who submitted the original appeal of putting forward the full text of the law which they wanted to be passed. With the backing of 63 percent of voters in the state, the initiative was enacted (Schrengohst 20).
The Department of Public Health (DPH) held listening sessions across the state of Massachusetts and developed laws to execute the rule in the year 2013. Towards the end of January 2014, the DPH made an announcement that it had approved a total of twenty not-for-profit dispensaries. More applicants, 8 in total, are being provided with more time to get a dissimilar location. By August 2014, the program director is expecting 24 – 26 dispensaries to be in operation. It is of note that the state law in Massachusetts permits for up to 35 within the first year (Tuttle 1). In the meantime, the patient registry is not yet operational although it was expected to be up and running by the beginning of January 2014. Meanwhile, patients do not need to register; they may farm a restricted supply of marijuana. As soon as the regulation is completely implemented they would require a hardship registration, because of economic or other hardship, to be permitted to farm marijuana (Hartman 74).
However, in the recent past, irregularities have materialized in the MMMI into a possible scandal, and all eyes turned to Governor Patrick of the state of Massachusetts to do something. Rather than a dilemma, the Governor is facing a great opportunity. Governor Patrick will definitely wait for the Department of Public Health to complete its appraisal process and release the scoring sheets for every application. That would attract close inspection by local officials, the media, as we...