Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
BOSTON - State Sen. Stanley Rosenberg now favors a ballot petition that would legalize the medical use of marijuana, in part to play a role to make sure strict regulations are placed on patients and doctors.
Rosenberg, D-Amherst, who had been concerned the ballot initiative could create the opportunity for rogue physicians to go into the marijuana distribution business, said Wednesday he would work to clean up any loopholes if the petition is approved by voters in November.
"I have concerns about a few of the provisions but I will support it," he said in a telephone interview. "Then I will work in the Legislature if the vote goes through to perfect it."
Rosenberg, who was treated for skin cancer diagnosed last September, had filed legislation requiring tighter controls on the drug's use.
He was concerned that the ballot petition was too broad, allowing access to marijuana for patients suffering from illnesses including cancer, HIV or AIDS, multiple sclerosis and "other conditions as determined in writing by a qualifying patient's physician."
However, because his legislation has not been approved, Rosenberg said he would now support the effort to get the petition on the Nov. 6 ballot.
Wednesday was the deadline for the Legislature to agree to place the measure on the ballot. Because it did not, the petition's sponsors need to collect an additional 11,458 signatures from registered voters to have the question placed on the ballot.
Michael D. Cutler, a lawyer in Northampton, who is one of the petition's sponsors, said, "They've already collected 70,000 signatures - collecting another 11,000 or so will be a piece of cake."
Rosenberg agreed. "Most groups are successful in getting additional signatures. I think there's a very strong probability it will be on the November ballot," he said.
The measure would allow for up to 35 dispensaries or treatment centers around the state with at least one in each county. If approved by the voters, it would take effect in January 2013.
Sixteen other states, including Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island, have legalized marijuana for medical purposes.
Opponents of legalization say marijuana should not be given the same status as a prescription drug because it has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
But Cutler said that legalization could help move research forward on uses of marijuana.
"If the medicine is available to patients in Massachusetts through a state-regulated distribution system, hospitals can study the effects of the medicine on patients and get research on a state level," Cutler said.
Sen. Stanley Rosenberg
News Hawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: GazetteNET
Author: Vicky Britton
Copyright: Daily Hampshire Gazette
Contact: Contact Us: The Gazette
Website: Sen. Stanley Rosenberg supports ballot question on medical marijuana
Rosenberg, D-Amherst, who had been concerned the ballot initiative could create the opportunity for rogue physicians to go into the marijuana distribution business, said Wednesday he would work to clean up any loopholes if the petition is approved by voters in November.
"I have concerns about a few of the provisions but I will support it," he said in a telephone interview. "Then I will work in the Legislature if the vote goes through to perfect it."
Rosenberg, who was treated for skin cancer diagnosed last September, had filed legislation requiring tighter controls on the drug's use.
He was concerned that the ballot petition was too broad, allowing access to marijuana for patients suffering from illnesses including cancer, HIV or AIDS, multiple sclerosis and "other conditions as determined in writing by a qualifying patient's physician."
However, because his legislation has not been approved, Rosenberg said he would now support the effort to get the petition on the Nov. 6 ballot.
Wednesday was the deadline for the Legislature to agree to place the measure on the ballot. Because it did not, the petition's sponsors need to collect an additional 11,458 signatures from registered voters to have the question placed on the ballot.
Michael D. Cutler, a lawyer in Northampton, who is one of the petition's sponsors, said, "They've already collected 70,000 signatures - collecting another 11,000 or so will be a piece of cake."
Rosenberg agreed. "Most groups are successful in getting additional signatures. I think there's a very strong probability it will be on the November ballot," he said.
The measure would allow for up to 35 dispensaries or treatment centers around the state with at least one in each county. If approved by the voters, it would take effect in January 2013.
Sixteen other states, including Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island, have legalized marijuana for medical purposes.
Opponents of legalization say marijuana should not be given the same status as a prescription drug because it has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
But Cutler said that legalization could help move research forward on uses of marijuana.
"If the medicine is available to patients in Massachusetts through a state-regulated distribution system, hospitals can study the effects of the medicine on patients and get research on a state level," Cutler said.
Sen. Stanley Rosenberg
News Hawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: GazetteNET
Author: Vicky Britton
Copyright: Daily Hampshire Gazette
Contact: Contact Us: The Gazette
Website: Sen. Stanley Rosenberg supports ballot question on medical marijuana
