Pubdate: Thu, 28 Oct 2010
Source: Brookline TAB (MA)
Copyright: 2010 GateHouse Media, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wickedlocal.com/brookline/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3502
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?261 (Cannabis - United States)

BROOKLINE TAB ENDORSEMENT: YES ON QUESTION 4

Brookline - Also on the ballot in Brookline is Question 4 (Question 7 
in Precinct 5) which asks, "Shall the state senator from this 
district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would 
allow the state to regulate the taxation, cultivation, and sale of 
marijuana to adults?"

While this is not a cut-and-dried issue, the TAB recommends a yes 
vote to this nonbinding question.

The Massachusetts Legislature has for many years refused to even 
discuss marijuana policy. Two years ago, voters took the issue out of 
the Legislature's hands, approving the decriminalization of 
marijuana. Question 2 passed with 65 percent of the vote. Now it's 
time to take the issue to its next logical step: legalization.

The majority of people in the U.S. under the age of 65 have smoked 
pot at least once, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. 
Adults who want to buy marijuana to use socially know where to buy 
it. Rather than turning a blind eye while they dump their hard-earned 
money into the pockets of a black market that encourages local 
violence, the state should heavily tax marijuana and use the proceeds 
for public safety or any number of government services.

The implications of legalizing a non-harmful drug like marijuana 
should be studied. We have not yet solved drug violence by 
prohibiting drugs. We have no reason to believe that continuing the 
same behavior will produce different results.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake