Pubdate: Mon, 23 Mar 2009
Source: Wakefield Observer (MA)
Column: O'Neil Off deadline
Copyright: 2009 Community Newspaper Company
Contact:  http://www2.townonline.com/wakefield/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3791
Author: Donna O'Neil
Note: Donna O'Neil is the editor of the Wakefield Observer.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?161 (Cannabis - Regulation)

PROPOSAL TO LEGALIZE POT IN MASSACHUSETTS - WHO DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING?

Wakefield - The Massachusetts' legislators rolled out another 
interesting proposal last week -legalizing marijuana. And surprise of 
all surprises, the proposal would set up yet another state agency to 
regulate the deal. We have only to speak of a few state agencies gone 
awry to see how that works - Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, 
MassPort, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner - if you're 
unfamiliar, just Google them, there's plenty there.

Since Massachusetts' voters passed a law to decriminalize marijuana 
last November, this proposal was only a matter of time. However, no 
matter which side of the bong you're sitting on, this presents some 
interesting options.

 From the Yeah-dude perspective: hundreds of people could become 
gainfully employed in the time span of a single toke, community 
gardens would cultivate a new crop of gardeners, the state can 
finally capitalize on one of it's fastest growing industries, and 
newspapers and other print media will benefit from pharmaceutical 
companies major ad campaigns extolling the virtues of Celexa and 
Xanax as feel-good over the counter options to street pot. The pace 
of life will become a lot slower and ethics and corruption in the 
Massachusetts political system will be easier to deal with.

 From the Not-in-my-backyard point of view: 
Marijuana-as-a-gateway-drug proponents will have a tougher job trying 
to convince people of their message, pharmaceutical companies as 
mentioned above will be waitlisted for bailouts by the federal 
government because they will be on the verge of bankruptcy, and all 
those employee manuals that state "We do random drug testing" will 
have to adopt new policies excluding pot from their list of illicit drugs.

Legalizing marijuana will leave taxpayers in a haze when it comes to 
dealing with Massachusetts' bureaucracy. Imagine the confusion when 
folks find out the acronyms have changed:

DPH - Department of Public Health becomes Department of Pot Heads

MBTA - Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority becomes Major Big 
Twinkies Available

RMV - Registry of Motor Vehicles becomes the Reefer Madness Venders

New grassroots efforts will take to the streets including Bring back 
trans fat and Toke 'N' Smoke sections in restaurants will be the 
fastest growing crazes.

At this point, we're looking for more research on the subject; please 
pass me a lighter so I can make informed decision.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom