Pubdate: Fri, 10 Dec 2010
Source: Daily News, The (Newburyport, MA)
Copyright: 2010 Eagle Tribune Publishing Company
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/k3oQxseR
Website: http://www.newburyportnews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/693
Cited: MassCan http://www.MassCann.org
Cited: Freedom Bus Caravan http://www.freedombuscaravan.org/
Cited: Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance http://www.masscompassion.org/

ACTIVISTS LOOK TO ADVANCE MARIJUANA REFORM LEGISLATION

GEORGETOWN -- The Massachusetts Cannabis Convention resolved that 
"noncommercial cultivation for personal use is a human right and is 
not to be taxed" at a meeting in Georgetown last weekend.

More than 50 marijuana reform activists from around the state 
attended the convention called by the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform 
Coalition (Mass Cann), a state affiliate of the National Organization 
for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Before the resolution, those in attendance exchanged ideas on 
advancing marijuana law reform.

Terry Franklin of Amherst spoke about FreedomBusCaravan,org, an 
activist plan for the presidential primary season in New Hampshire.

Matt Allen of Boston spoke about the activities of 
MassCompassion.org. He identified Speaker of the House, Robert DeLeo 
as the roadblock to reforming the Weld administration-approved 
medical marijuana law so that patients would not need a federally 
approved supply, which is not a requirement in any of the laws 
approved in 15 states and the District of Columbia since passage of 
the Massachusetts Therapeutic Research Act.

The results of the legalization public policy questions that appeared 
on the ballot in one Senate and eight House Districts, which were 
released last week, show that a majority of the more than 200,000 
voters polled support regulation and taxation of cannabis commerce in 
Massachusetts.

The group also discussed anticipated legislation intended to gut 
Question 2, an act establishing a sensible state marijuana policy 
approved by more than 63 percent of voters in the 2008 election. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake