Pubdate: Tue, 18 Sep 2012
Source: Gloucester Daily Times (MA)
Copyright: 2012 Eagle Tribune Publishing Company
Contact: http://www.gloucestertimes.com/contactus/local_story_015132144.html
Website: http://www.gloucestertimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/169
Author: Colleen Quinn

SPOOF WEBSITE TANGLES MED MARIJUANA DEBATE

BOSTON - Massachusetts voters searching for arguments against the 
medical marijuana ballot question who visit the website printed in 
the state's official election voter guide will be surprised to find 
out that the Boston Red Sox are in last place because of Question 3 
or that medical marijuana is a "gateway drug to Twinkie addiction."

Someone created a spoof website on www.votenoonquestion3.org, the web 
address printed in the 2012 ballot question information voters guide 
that is being promoted by Secretary of State William Galvin, and was 
mailed last week to regularly mailed to voters from Cape Ann to Cape 
Cod and the Berkshires. The question regarding the medical 
legalization of marijuana will appear on ballots across the state on 
Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Organizers of the Vote No on Question 3 campaign never registered the 
domain, according to Brian McNiff, a spokesman for the Secretary of 
State's office. It was purchased by someone else after the guide was 
already mailed to millions of Massachusetts residents.

This has never happened before, as far as he can remember, McNiff said.

If it passes, Question 3 would allow the medical use of marijuana by 
qualifying patients without the fear of state criminal or civil 
penalties. Massachusetts would become the 17th state, along with 
Maine and Rhode Island, to allow medical marijuana use.

The creator of the spoof website, Boston resident Scott Gacek, told 
the News Service he never saw the voter guide and made his site "on a whim."

"The domain was available so I bought it," for $15, Gacek said. "I 
didn't even know that was the website they planned."

Gacek, 35, said he is not affiliated with any organization sponsoring 
Question 3.

The spoof website includes made-up news stories like "Marijuana is a 
Gateway Drug to Twinkies," and "Elementary school counselor speaks 
out against medical marijuana" - with the story going on to say the 
character from South Park announced his endorsement of Vote No on 
Question 3 campaign.

Another story reads, "Medical marijuana will hurt opiate based 
medication sales," with medications like morphine and Oxycontin 
dipping and hurting shareholders at large pharmaceutical companies.

At the bottom of the site's homepage it states, "This is a 
privately-owned, satirical website and is not affiliated with any 
political party or organization involved in the 2012 electoral 
campaigns. The information provided is for entertainment use only."

Dr. Jay Broadhurst, a lead opponent of the medical marijuana campaign 
and whose name is printed in the voter guide, attributed the mishap 
to running a grassroots campaign.

Broadhurst said his website was "hijacked" and he feels it was a 
deliberate "sabotage" of his efforts to fight the movement to allow 
marijuana use for medicinal purposes.

Gacek said it was a "funny coincidence," and he did not know his site 
address was printed in the voter guide until he received a call from 
the News Service.

A freelance web designer, Gacek said he did a Google search looking 
for any websites opposed to Question 3, but did not find any.

"This shows how disorganized they are that they don't even register a 
website," Gacek said. "You would think you would try to make sure 
that website was accurate, and buy the domain."

Long a proponent of legalizing marijuana, he said he decided to spoof 
arguments against marijuana reform and Question 3. He went through a 
search engine to find out what domains were available, finding that 
votenoonquestion3.org was not taken.

"It was just something I did on a whim. I wanted to poke fun at and 
take a satirical look at some of the arguments people use when they 
are against progressive marijuana reform," Gacek said. "I am simply a 
voter who will vote yes on Question 3. My goal with the website was 
basically to poke fun at the arguments that are typically brought up."

Broadhurst, a physician, said he is opposed to medical marijuana 
because it puts doctors in a position they should not be in by giving 
patients the option of requesting marijuana.

"Marijuana is not medicine, no way, no how. It is ludicrous," 
Broadhurst said. "The bottom line is if our commonwealth wants to 
have a debate and discussion about legalizing marijuana then let's do that."

Galvin's office put the No on Question 3 campaign's new web address, 
www. mavotenoonquestion3.com, up on the Secretary of State' website, 
but does not plan to reprint the guide.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom