Pubdate: Fri, 24 Feb 2012
Source: Sun Chronicle (Attleboro, MA)
Copyright: 2012 Sun Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.thesunchronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3184
Author: James DeBlois
Note: James DeBlois of Rehoboth is a master's candidate in the 
Bridgewater State University Department of Social Work.

TIME RIGHT TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA

As a cancer survivor, terminal illness. As a Massachusetts resident 
and taxpayer, I believe it is long overdue that we pass medical 
marijuana laws as other states have. Marijuana increases the quality 
of life for those suffering from chronic and terminal illness and the 
tax increases will benefit everyone in Massachusetts.

The National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine found that 
marijuana benefited individuals who suffered from physically 
devastating medical conditions.

As a result, marijuana laws now make it legal to use the drug to 
treat the suffering associated with certain illnesses. These laws 
ensure that patients suffering with medical illness are protected 
against arrest and prosecution along with their physicians and care 
givers. What we have now are pharmaceutical companies that pander to 
agencies that profit by providing over-priced medications that have 
more side effects than treatment possibilities.

We need only to look at other states that are already reaping the 
benefits of legalization. According to the Gazette in Colorado 
Springs, taxes brought in tens of thousands of dollars per month: In 
April 2010 alone, sales were in the amount of $1.6 million. This 
doesn't take into account the ripple effect it could have here as it 
did in Colorado, where an increase in construction of facilities 
created more jobs for electricians, laborers and other 
construction-related occupations. TIME, a partnership of CNN Money, 
stated that in March 2011 alone, San Jose California brought in 
$290,000 in tax revenue, further demonstrating the benefits marijuana 
brings to local communities. CNN Money estimated that Massachusetts 
could bring in as much as $18.4 million dollars annually.

This is a prime opportunity to advocate for the legalization of 
marijuana for medical use and follow in the footsteps of the 16 other 
states. Contact The Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition at, 
_http://www.masscann.org/_ (http://www.masscann.org/) . They can help 
get you involved in supporting the issue. Contact your Massachusetts 
senator and representative to ask that they support Bill H3885: The 
Petition for an Act for the Humanitarian Medical Use of Marijuana Bill.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom