Massachusetts OKs Medical Marijuana

By Samantha DeJesus on November 9, 2012

Massachusetts residents have spoken and they have voted in favor of medical marijuana making Mass the 18th state to legalize marijuana through state approved distribution center’s next year. An overwhelming 63% of voters voted “yes” on question 3 on Tuesday, showing that the attitude towards marijuana is changing in dramatic fashion.

(Associated Press)

The ballot question makes it legal for those diagnosed with cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, AIDS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, glaucoma and other conditions determined by a doctor to smoke a prescribed amount of marijuana. Supporters say the drug helps alleviate the pain that people with these sicknesses face and also hope this will help the state regulate the illegal dispersion of the drug.

Nonprofit treatment centers will be placed throughout the state and be able to grow marijuana and distribute up to a 60 day supply of the drug to the patient or caregiver.

Opponents of the law claim they are concerned it will increase the amount of recreational use of marijuana, especially among teenagers who may think the drug is safe now that it is being used in the medical world. They also worry that the marijuana produced by the state could end up being sold on the black market as it has in other states.

Other states have taken it a step further. Colorado and Washington state have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Supporters call this a huge step in what they call a change from modern day “prohibition”.

Dan Hagen, 23, of Amherst who voted in favor of question 3 is pleased about the legislation in Colorado and Washington.

“I think it’s getting to the point where marijuana is looked at just like alcohol,” Hagen says. “I’ve talked to people my age and even people who are older than my parents and they feel the same way as me. I don’t see anything wrong with using marijuana recreationally and I definitely do not see anything wrong with using it medically.”

Patients will be able to legally obtain medical marijuana in Massachusetts as of January 1, but it won’t be easy at first. To start, the patient will have to find a doctor who is willing to prescribe marijuana; the doctors are not forced by law to prescribe it.

A second factor is that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health must come up with regulations for the selection and running of marijuana dispensaries by May 13, 2013. The law allows for Massachusetts to have 35 dispensaries; no more than five per county.

For the time being, patients will be allowed to grow a 60 day supply and can have a designated caregiver assist them.