Robert Celt
New Member
Massachusetts is now one step closer to legalizing marijuana.
Secretary of State Bill Galvin on Tuesday certified 70,739 signatures submitted by the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, clearing a path towards the 2016 ballot, MassLive.com reports.
"We are excited to have reached this milestone and look forward to the legislative debate over the benefits of ending prohibition and regulating and taxing marijuana," said Will Luzier, manager of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Massachusetts, in a written statement.
The proposed initiative would allow adults age 21 and over to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow a limited number of plants at their private residencies. The state would also create a 3.75 percent excise tax on retail sales, establish a regulatory commission, and allow local governments to regulate and limit the amount of cannabis businesses in their town.
"Today's announcement confirms that the people of Massachusetts want to vote on an initiative to regulate marijuana and end the practice of punishing adults for using a substance less harmful than alcohol," Luzier added.
The petition will now be presented in the Massachusetts legislature. If state lawmakers reject the petition, initiative backers will have to collect an additional 10,792 signatures by early July 2016 in order to qualify for the November ballot.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Massachusetts Certifies Marijuana Legalization Initiative
Author: Oscar Pascual
Contact: SF Gate
Photo Credit: None found
Website: SF Gate
Secretary of State Bill Galvin on Tuesday certified 70,739 signatures submitted by the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, clearing a path towards the 2016 ballot, MassLive.com reports.
"We are excited to have reached this milestone and look forward to the legislative debate over the benefits of ending prohibition and regulating and taxing marijuana," said Will Luzier, manager of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Massachusetts, in a written statement.
The proposed initiative would allow adults age 21 and over to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow a limited number of plants at their private residencies. The state would also create a 3.75 percent excise tax on retail sales, establish a regulatory commission, and allow local governments to regulate and limit the amount of cannabis businesses in their town.
"Today's announcement confirms that the people of Massachusetts want to vote on an initiative to regulate marijuana and end the practice of punishing adults for using a substance less harmful than alcohol," Luzier added.
The petition will now be presented in the Massachusetts legislature. If state lawmakers reject the petition, initiative backers will have to collect an additional 10,792 signatures by early July 2016 in order to qualify for the November ballot.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Massachusetts Certifies Marijuana Legalization Initiative
Author: Oscar Pascual
Contact: SF Gate
Photo Credit: None found
Website: SF Gate
