Pubdate: Sat, 01 Dec 2012
Source: Melrose Free Press (MA)
Copyright: 2012 GateHouse Media, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wickedlocal.com/melrose/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3790

MIXED MESSAGES ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA, IN MELROSE AND IN REGION

Local communities are sending confusing messages about drug policy. A
change in attitude to remove the stigma of marijuana use was evident
in this month's election results, with Massachusetts becoming the
latest state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes.

However, when confronted with the possibility of dispensaries in their
own backyards, public officials and residents, at least those
representing fellow residents, seem to be sending a different message.

Officials in some local cities and towns, such as Melrose and Saugus,
are already considering zoning changes to keep distributorships out of
town, or at least limit where they can be.

And in the case of Reading and Wakefield, Town Meetings in those
communities have already passed zoning bylaws banning medical
marijuana dispensaries, despite the ballot question receiving a
majority of "Yes" votes in both towns.

The concern is that communities are taking preemptive action that
violates the spirit of a voter-backed ballot question. (In Melrose,
for example, 9,275 voters supported Question 3 compared to 5,361 who
opposed it.)

If anything, it sends a mixed message that communities are willing to
take a progressive approach to drug policy as long as the results
don't directly affect them.

We understand the concerns.

Suburban communities struggle to find ways to prevent drug abuse,
especially among teenagers. And considering the drug-related crimes
that have made headlines in Reading and a previous proposal for a
dispensary in Wakefield, the matter is more urgent in those and
surrounding communities.

But drugs are not a problem exclusive to those communities.

Instead, bylaws zoning out dispensaries would likely push them to more
urban communities, where drug-related problems are an even greater
challenge. It doesn't solve any concerns; it just sweeps them under
the rug. And if the vast majority of suburban communities follow
Reading and Wakefield's lead, access to medicinal marijuana will be
limited to those who truly need it.

The "how" of dispensing medical marijuana still needs to be sorted
out. Moving forward, we hope other communities would consider, and
maybe Melrose could reconsider, taking a wait-and-see approach to
regulating dispensaries.

If it becomes apparent dispensaries can operate without adversely
impacting a community, there is hope residents and officials will
follow the spirit of the ballot question and make medicinal marijuana
accessible to those who need it.
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MAP posted-by: Matt