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Medical Marijuana

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Starting Jan. 1 You Can Grow Your Own Marijuana with Doctor's Prescription

The State Department of Public Health is working on coming up with statewide regulations.

As municipalities across Massachusetts await medical marijuana regulations from the State Department of Public Health, the Boston City Council is preparing the city the best it can for medical marijuana come January 1. Boston has a 120-day window through city zoning regulations starting Jan. 1 to create new zoning for medical marijuana dispensaries, but the state law states medical marijuana dispensaries can be opened on Jan. 1. The state law also says anyone who receives a prescription from their physician can then legally grow their own marijuana. District 5 City Councilor Rob Consalvo, chair of the Committee on Public Safety, said the city is continuing to work on creating zoning to allow medical marijuana dispensaries. Consalvo has …

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

New Zoning Needed for Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in Boston

Boston will be updating its zoning code to permit medical marijuana dispensaries in specific areas around the city.

Massachusetts voters spoke loud and clearly on Election Day by overwhelmingly supporting the legalization of medical marijuana starting January 1. Now Boston has to figure out where the medical marijuana dispensaries will be within the city.   District 5 City Councilor Rob Consalvo led the charge at Wednesday's Boston City Council meeting, saying while they don't know how many facilities the city will get yet, it's clear they will get some.  "I’m proposing what we do regularly - update our zoning code," Consalvo said. "This will be my seventh effort of amending the zoning code. Clearly this is a new use and a new change in front of us."  But first the state needs to provide regulations, "We don’t know how the state regulations will take …

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Boston Discussing Medical Marijuana Dispensaries on Wednesday

City Councilor Rob Consalvo estimated that Boston will get about four medical marijuana dispensaries in 2013. But where will they be located?

  The Boston City Council will begin its discussion of how Boston will handle the legalization of medical marijuana on Wednesday. "We respect the will of voters," said District 5 City Councilor Rob Consalvo, who filed an order to hold the necessary hearing. "In the first year alone 35 dispensaries are to open up (in Massachusetts), and it's unlimited after that." Consalvo said he is guessing that Boston will start with four dispensaries due to it having 10 percent of the state's population. He said he was unaware of whether there is a difference between medical dispensaries and growing facilities, but that will be discussed at the hearing. An unlike several Massachusetts municipalities, such as Reading, which created zoning rules to not …

Friday, November 9, 2012

TELL US: Would You Want a Marijuana Dispensary in Your Neighborhood?

The medical marijuana ballot initiative passed on Tuesday, which means up to 35 medical marijuana dispensaries can open in 2013. Would you be OK with having one in your neighborhood?

Medical marijuana is coming to Massachusetts. The question is: where? The medical marijana ballot initiative that passed in Tuesdays election with 63 percent voter approval means that up to 35 medical marijuana dispensaries can open up in the state in 2013. The new law goes into effect January 1, but requires rules and regulations be set up by the Department of Public Health. Some towns and cities, such as Quincy, reportedly are already trying to line up regulations that would keep dispensaries out of their municipalities, which have proved troublesome in some of the nine states where medical marijuana dispensaries have been legal. What do you think? Is this a classic case of NIMBY (fine, but Not In My Back Yard)? Or do medical marijuana …

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Friday, September 28, 2012

Governor Says He Will 'Probably' Vote Against Marijuana Ballot Question

The governor, during a live chat with Patch, expressed skepticism about the legalization of medical marijuana, though he sympathized with patients in pain.

Governor Deval Patrick said he would likely vote no on Question Three this fall. During a Thursday live chat with Patch, a reader asked Patrick how he would vote on the ballot question and whether the governor was for or against the legalization of cannabis.  "I am not too energized on this issue, personally. California's experience has been mixed. I will probably vote against it. I respect the opposing view, though, especially those whose concern is for people in constant pain," wrote the governor in response.  Proponents say medical marijuana will help ease the pain and suffering of cancer patients and other eligible residents. Opponents, meanwhile, say the law is a back door to full legalization, and that medical marijuana can be …

Saturday, September 22, 2012

This Week in Review, September 16 to September 21

Here are a few headlines from the week.

Another week has come and gone, Patch fans. We had some odd stories about marijuana laws and Doctors with dark practices. You can also read up on your Rep. and a Boston College Mass at Fenway. Enjoy your weekend, folks. 1. Phillips Academy Says Doctor Not Reappointed Due to Inappropriate Behavior: Andover resident Dr. Richard Keller was charged in federal court last week for receiving child pornography. And his former employer, Phillips Academy Andover, sent a letter out to the Phillips community saying that it was inappropriate behavior, among other things, that prompted the school not to reappoint Keller to the position as medical director in 2011. Dr. Keller has agreed not to practice medicine any longer. 2. Sound Off: Should …

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Fight Over Medical Marijuana Question Lights Up

A spoof website ignites discussion on both side of the issue.

A group fighting to keep marijuana illegal says that a recent spoof of their website was anything but funny, and took a potshot at its creator.  "This is no joke. This whole situation is demonstrative of the problem at hand: who is really behind this initiative to legalize pot as medicine," a writer on mavotenoonquestion3.com shot back after freelance web designer Scott Gacek revealed that he bought the website the group had listed with the Secretary of State William Galvin's office, VoteNoOnQuestion3.org. Galvin's office sent out its guide for voters last week, including information on the three ballot questions, with the second website address listed. But since the anti-pot group never registered the URL, Gacek was able to buy it and set…

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Three to Four Initiatives Likely to Make Fall Ballot

Ballot to be finalized by AG's office on July 3.

Of the 31 initiatives put forth for the fall ballot, only four both have enough signatures and been certified by Attorney General Martha Coakley in order to make it on the ballot by the July 3 deadline. And of those, one looks likely to be resolved by the Legislature before that date.  The initiative that appears likely to reach resolution is called "An Act Promoting Excellence in Public Schools." Backed by Stand for Children Massachusetts, it involves retaining and promoting teachers based on performance reviews and test scores rather than seniority. Proponents say it will raise teaching standards and make it easier for schools to fire ineffective teachers. But opponents, which include the Massachusetts Teachers Association, say that …

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