Tag medical marijuana

Landslide Victory for Marijuana Law Reform 0

Nov6

To expand on my previous post, on November 4, 2008, nine out of ten marijuana-related ballot initiatives were passed.

Massachusetts Question 2: Remove the threat of arrest or jail for possessing an ounce or less of marijuana, replacing it with a $100 fine, which could be paid through the mail without lawyers or court appearances, just like a speeding ticket. WIN
65%-35%
Michigan Proposal 1: Permit terminally and seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana with their doctors’ approval. WIN
63%-37%
California Proposition 5: Expand the number of drug offenders diverted from prison into treatment and decriminalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana, among other things. LOSS
60%-40%
Berkeley, California Measure JJ: Expand the non-residential zones where dispensaries can locate, create an oversight commission to create standards and determine whether relocating or future operators are in compliance, issue zoning certificates, and bring Berkeley marijuana possession limits in line with recent court rulings determining that such limits are unconstitutional in the state. WIN
62%-38%
Fayetteville, Arkansas Require adult marijuana possession laws to be the lowest priority for local law enforcement. WIN
66%-34%
Hawaii County, Hawaii Ballot Question 1: Require adult marijuana possession laws to be the lowest priority for local law enforcement. WIN
53%-39%
Ayer, Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, and Townsend, Massachusetts Question 4: Direct the district’s state representative to vote in favor of legislation that would allow seriously ill patients, with their doctor’s written recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for their personal medical use. WIN
74%-26%
Medfield, Needham, and precincts 1 and 2 of Dover, Massachusetts Question 4: Direct the district’s state representative to vote in favor of legislation that would allow seriously ill patients, with their doctor’s written recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for their personal medical use. WIN
73%-27%
Bedford, Burlington, precinct 3 of Wilmington, Massachusetts Question 4: Direct the district’s state representative to vote in favor of legislation that would allow seriously ill patients, with their doctor’s written recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for their personal medical use. WIN
71%-29%
Hanson, Pembroke, precincts 2,3,4,5 of Duxbury, precinct 2 of Halifax, Massachusetts Question 4: Direct the district’s state representative to vote in favor of legislation that would allow seriously ill patients, with their doctor’s written recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for their personal medical use. WIN
71%-29%

My Faith has Been Restored 0

Nov4

…In the American People, that is. At least somewhat.

Not only have we just made history by electing the first black man as president, but we’ve made even more progress on the law reform front.

For the first time in history, a decriminalization initiative appeared on the statewide ballot in Massachusetts, and voters passed it by a huge majority. This initiative will rid all penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and replace it with a fine of one-hundred dollars. This fine can be paid through the mail, much like a traffic ticket, without the need for attorneys or court appearances.

Another huge step was taken in Michigan, where voters passed MPP’s medical marijuana initiative, making Michigan the thirteenth Medical Marijuana state. Michigan is the first state in the Midwest, and the second largest in the country, to permit the use of medical marijuana by seriously ill patients.

According to an email I received from Rob Kampia, the Executive Director of the MPP, “As a result of tonight’s victory, almost one quarter of the nation now resides in states with medical marijuana laws.”

For the first time in a very, very long time, I am proud to be an American citizen. Maybe this all means everyone is getting their shit together and the sand out of their vaginas. Here’s to hoping…