Pubdate: Thu, 01 Nov 2012
Source: Norwood Transcript and Bulletin (MA)
Contact:  2012, GateHouse Media, Inc.
Website: http://www.wickedlocal.com/norwood
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5417
Author: Chloe Gotsis

BALLOT QUESTION 3 TO LEGALIZE 'WEED' FOR MEDICAL USE

Newton - Even the lightest touch can bring Peter Hayashi extreme pain.

Hayashi has tried physical therapy and a variety of medications to 
alleviate his allodynia, a condition he developed after surgery a 
decade ago. Not much helped until the Newton resident tried 
marijuana. The drug has improved his life so much that Hayashi is 
working with the Committee for Compassionate Medicine to pass ballot 
Question 3, which would allow him and other patients to get marijuana 
legally in Massachusetts.

Opponents of the measure argue that it includes too few regulations 
and allows for loopholes that could be easily abused.

Voters will decide the outcome of the ballot proposal on Nov. 6.

"I was in bed and with a little bit of medical marijuana, I was able 
to get up and join my son and my wife at the Y and exercise," said 
Hayashi, who identified himself as a former clinical 
neuropsychologist, during an editorial board with Wicked Local 
editors and reporters.

If Question 3 passes, it would allow doctors to recommend patients 
suffering from conditions like Hayashi's - plus cancer, glaucoma, 
Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, AIDS and ALS -- to use 
medical marijuana to alleviate their pain. The names of approved 
patients would be entered into a centralized database and these 
patients could get a 60-day supply of medical marijuana at a 
non-profit treatment center. They would have to show an ID card at the center.

Supporters say those safeguards would prevent illicit use of the drug.

But opponents like Heidi Heilman and Jody Hensley, from MA Vote No on 
Question 3, say the proposal isn't strict enough. They're concerned 
ID holders would resell marijuana to teens for recreational use.

"We are talking about an enormous amount of street supply going into 
the hands of our kids," said Heilman.

Heilman said that's of particular concern because medical pot is 
potent and can affect the development of the brain.

"Marijuana is the number one drug that puts children in substance 
abuse treatment centers," Heilman said at an editorial board with Wicked Local.

The proposed law permits Massachusetts to open a maximum of 35 
non-profit treatment centers in the state, with no more than five in 
one county, in the first year that it is enacted.

Proponents said the proposed law has restrictions in place that 
Colorado and California don't have-like a statewide patient registry, 
a limit on treatment centers and felony punishment of up to five 
years for abuse of the system.

Opponents are concerned the law would make patients eligible to get 
the drug for life, and that it allows doctors to treat milder 
conditions like ADHD and anxiety with the potent drug. They say 
smoking a drug is dangerous to patients' health.

Matt Allen, of the Committee for Compassionate Medicine, said the 
state will determine when the ID cards should expire and that 
marijuana can be "taken" in a variety of safe ways. He said the 
ballot question leaves many of the specifics to be determined by the 
state during the 120-day period it has to write the law.

Opponents see another problem there, saying 120 days isn't enough 
time to draft and pass well-thought-out regulations.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom