Masssachusetts Medical marijuana bill hits dead end; penalty reduction bill passes cmte

Marijuana Policy Project Alert: Mass.
April 9, 2008


FROM: Karen O'Keefe, MPP assistant director of state policies

In March, Massachusetts legislative committees effectively killed a medical
marijuana bill for the year, and favorably reported a separate bill to reduce the
penalty for simple possession.

Despite hearing powerful testimony from patients, the Joint Committee on Public
Health sent medical marijuana bill H. 2247 to study on March 18. This means that the
bill will not have a chance to pass; it will not be referred to another committee or
to the full legislature.

H. 2247 would have allowed patients with debilitating medical conditions to possess,
cultivate, and use medical marijuana to treat their symptoms. While this is very
disappointing, it is not unusual for legislatures to consider medical marijuana
bills for several legislative sessions before acting on them. Please visit
http://control.mpp.org/site/R?i=v4MRAGUnFRChtbaVQe00qg.. to let your legislators
know that this issue is important to you and that you'd like them to enact a medical
marijuana bill next session.

Two days after the medical marijuana bill was sent to study, the Joint Committee on
Mental Health and Substance Abuse favorably reported out a bill, which would reduce
the maximum penalty for possessing an ounce of marijuana to a $250 civil fine. The
bill, S.1121, is now in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

If your senator is on the ways and means committee, please call him or her to voice
your support for reducing marijuana possession penalties. You can visit
http://control.mpp.org/site/R?i=PQfBieJ_dqoLaFdkGMzBqA.. to find out if your senator
is on the committee, to find his or her number, and to read talking points.

While it's important to contact committee members about S. 1211, the best hope for
significantly reducing the penalties for simple possession of marijuana and
eliminating many collateral consequences that can haunt marijuana users for life
remains the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy's initiative. The legislature
has thus far refused to reform marijuana possession penalties, despite bills being
introduced for the past several legislative sessions.

CSMP's initiative would reduce the penalty for possession of marijuana from up to
six months in jail and a $500 fine to a $100 civil fine. It would also eliminate the
chances of an arrest and CORI record, which sparks lifelong consequences in housing,
employment, and other areas. The first round of signature gathering was successfully
completed this fall, and the measure is in the legislature. If the legislature fails
to pass the bill by May 6, CSMP will have to gather 11,099 valid signatures between
early May and June 18 to put the measure on the November ballot. Please help pass
this historic initiative by visiting
http://control.mpp.org/site/R?i=Mh1ea2a1koCwyikkD4FJ7Q.. andsigning up to volunteer
with CSMP or donate to the campaign.

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. Please pass this message on
to others in Massachusetts, so that more voices for reform can be heard.

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