Legislature considering medical marijuana bill; new possession law working well despite attempts to weaken it
Last update: August 10, 2009
Medical marijuana legislation
In May, the Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing on HB 2160, which would allow seriously ill patients with diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and hepatitis C to use medical marijuana upon the recommendation of a doctor. Patients who possess a registry card from the state would be allowed to possess up to 12 plants and 4 ounces of usable marijuana, which must be stored in an enclosed, locked facility.
Please send your state legislators an e-mail today asking them to support the medical marijuana bill.
After you have e-mailed your legislators, please consider submitting a letter to the editor in support of the medical marijuana bill. This is a great way to remind lawmakers that there is widespread support for giving doctors and patients the option of treating disease with medical marijuana. When writing your letter, keep it short (around 150 words) and to the point, and check your spelling.
To find out more about the proposed medical marijuana law, be sure to check out the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance's site.
If you are a patient with a serious medical condition who could benefit from medical marijuana, a loved one, a medical professional, or a member of law enforcement or clergy who might be interested in speaking out, please contact the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance to see how you can be of special help in passing this legislation.
New marijuana possession citation law working well, despite attempts to weaken it
On November 4, 2008, Massachusetts became the first state to remove the possibility of jail for simple marijuana possession by voter initiative. Under the new law, possession of an ounce or less of marijuana is a civil infraction punishable only by a $100 fine and forfeiture of the marijuana. This is a much more sensible approach than the old penalties of six months in jail, a $500 fine, and a permanent criminal record that carried with it a multitude of collateral sanctions such as loss of employment, housing, and student loans.
Despite the fact that the new law was overwhelmingly approved with 65% of the vote, some localities are considering whether to create an additional penalty for the public use of marijuana. Under Massachusetts law, it is up to localities to decide whether or not, and how, to punish nuisances like drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana in public.
If you hear about such a meeting where you live, we encourage you take part in the democratic process and attend. If you attend one of these meetings, we'd love to hear how it went. Please send to state@mpp.org any feedback, comments, or concerns you have regarding how your community is implementing Question 2.
Earlier this year, legislation seeking to undermine Massachusetts' new marijuana possession law or otherwise increase the penalties associated with marijuana was introduced. Most of these bills were heard before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary in July. They now await further action.
If all of these bills were to pass, the areas in Massachusetts where possessing an ounce or less of marijuana could only result in a $100 fine would be reduced to almost nothing. This is most certainly not the situation envisioned by 65% of the voters when they approved Question 2 last November, so please take a few minutes to let your legislators know and ask them to respect the will of 65% of the voters by opposing these bills.
Stay connected
To stay updated on the status of marijuana policy reform in Massachusetts, be sure to subscribe to MPP's free legislative alert service.
