Robert Celt
New Member
Seven proposed ballot questions have enough signatures to move closer to a spot on the 2016 ballot, Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin's office confirmed Friday.
Voters in 2016 may have a chance to decide whether Massachusetts should legalize recreational marijuana, license a new slots parlor, limit the confinement of farm animals, increase the regulation of prices for medical procedures, raise the number of charter schools and pull out of the Common Core education standards.
In order to advance to the ballot, petitioners were required to collect at least 64,750 signatures from registered voters.
In addition, a proposed constitutional amendment to impose an additional 4 percent tax on millionaires also has enough signatures to move closer to a spot on the 2018 ballot, Galvin said.
Galvin said "it is conceivable, if not probable, that there may be legal challenges filed to some of these."
While the proposals appear to have enough signatures, they could be disqualified for a variety of reasons, including improper formatting.
Galvin said the qualifying initiatives will be sent to the legislature by Jan. 6, and lawmakers will have a chance to vote on the proposals. If a petition isn't approved by lawmakers by May 4, petitioners can still qualify for a spot on the ballot by collecting 10,792 new signatures by July.
Petitioners behind a handful of other initiatives also filed signatures, although they fell short of the required number. Those include proposals to reform animal shelter records and euthanasia procedures and a proposed amendment that would empower the legislature to prohibit public funds from being used for abortions.
Marijuana
The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol's proposal would allow the state to license shops to sell marijuana for recreational purposes and subject cannabis sales to the 6.25 percent state sales tax, the 3.75 percent state excise tax and a local option tax of up to 2 percent. Adults 21 and older would be allowed to possess up to 10 ounces of marijuana at home, and carry up to 1 ounce outside of their homes.
"This is direct democracy in action," campaign manager Will Luzier said in a statement. "People can see that our current prohibition policy isn't working, and they're taking action to replace it with a more sensible system.
Based on the level of support and enthusiasm we saw during the petition drive, voters are ready to end prohibition and start treating marijuana more like how our state treats alcohol."
A competing marijuana proposal from Bay State Repeal failed to garner enough signatures.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Massachusetts: Proposed Questions Inch Closer To Ballot
Author: Gerry Tuoti
Photo Credit: Ed Andrieski
Website: Wicked Local Tewksbury
Voters in 2016 may have a chance to decide whether Massachusetts should legalize recreational marijuana, license a new slots parlor, limit the confinement of farm animals, increase the regulation of prices for medical procedures, raise the number of charter schools and pull out of the Common Core education standards.
In order to advance to the ballot, petitioners were required to collect at least 64,750 signatures from registered voters.
In addition, a proposed constitutional amendment to impose an additional 4 percent tax on millionaires also has enough signatures to move closer to a spot on the 2018 ballot, Galvin said.
Galvin said "it is conceivable, if not probable, that there may be legal challenges filed to some of these."
While the proposals appear to have enough signatures, they could be disqualified for a variety of reasons, including improper formatting.
Galvin said the qualifying initiatives will be sent to the legislature by Jan. 6, and lawmakers will have a chance to vote on the proposals. If a petition isn't approved by lawmakers by May 4, petitioners can still qualify for a spot on the ballot by collecting 10,792 new signatures by July.
Petitioners behind a handful of other initiatives also filed signatures, although they fell short of the required number. Those include proposals to reform animal shelter records and euthanasia procedures and a proposed amendment that would empower the legislature to prohibit public funds from being used for abortions.
Marijuana
The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol's proposal would allow the state to license shops to sell marijuana for recreational purposes and subject cannabis sales to the 6.25 percent state sales tax, the 3.75 percent state excise tax and a local option tax of up to 2 percent. Adults 21 and older would be allowed to possess up to 10 ounces of marijuana at home, and carry up to 1 ounce outside of their homes.
"This is direct democracy in action," campaign manager Will Luzier said in a statement. "People can see that our current prohibition policy isn't working, and they're taking action to replace it with a more sensible system.
Based on the level of support and enthusiasm we saw during the petition drive, voters are ready to end prohibition and start treating marijuana more like how our state treats alcohol."
A competing marijuana proposal from Bay State Repeal failed to garner enough signatures.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Massachusetts: Proposed Questions Inch Closer To Ballot
Author: Gerry Tuoti
Photo Credit: Ed Andrieski
Website: Wicked Local Tewksbury
