Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

  • Shop
  • Subscribe to BMG
  • Contact
  • Log In
  • Front Page
  • All Posts
  • About
  • Rules
  • Events
  • Register on BMG

Voters support marijuana legalization; Baker, Walsh, & DeLeo don’t

April 14, 2016 By SamTracy 22 Comments

A new poll from Western New England University found that 57% of Massachusetts voters support the ballot question to legalize marijuana for adults over 21, with only 35% opposed. 7% remain undecided (1% declined to give an answer). Full results here.

This 22-point lead bodes very well for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, and makes sense given that the state approved both marijuana legalization and medical marijuana with 63% support. Other states’ forays into regulating marijuana are going very well, so voters are comfortable with Massachusetts following their lead and realizing the tax and justice benefits seen in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon (Alaska has also passed legalization, but dispensaries have not yet opened).

Also today, it was announced that Governor Charlie Baker, Mayor Martin J. Walsh of Boston, and House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo are forming a committee to campaign against the initiative, claiming it will increase youth use and worsen the opioid epidemic. These are both demonstrably false, as Colorado and Washington haven’t seen an increase in youth use and states with legal marijuana actually have fewer, not more, opiate overdose deaths.

Only time will tell what opposing a highly popular initiative with tired, incorrect fear-mongering does for the popularity of the three politicians.

Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0
0

Filed Under: User Tagged With: ballot-initiatives, Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, charlie-baker, election 2016, marijuana, marijuana legalization, marty-walsh, robert-deleo

Comments

  1. Christopher says

    April 14, 2016 at 4:46 pm

    Not on board with full legality – sends the wrong message IMO.

    Log in to Reply
    • doubleman says

      April 14, 2016 at 10:55 pm

      I understand that there will be various problems switching and that the substance can pose dangers, especially when overused by adolescents, but the fact remains that marijuana is significantly safer than alcohol.

      The country is moving in that direction. Massachusetts should get on board and try to make sure that legalization can be done responsibly. (It’s also an economic development opportunity.)

      Log in to Reply
      • Christopher says

        April 14, 2016 at 11:24 pm

        …that it is affirmatively OK to consume such a substance. I see decriminalization as saying I guess we’ll look the other way, but legalization as saying it is a positive good. I’m not convinced from what I have read that it’s less harmful than alcohol, and economic development arguments are going to fall flat with me on something like this.

        Log in to Reply
        • doubleman says

          April 14, 2016 at 11:57 pm

          Tobacco, alcohol, gambling – I disagree that legalization necessarily means it’s a positive good. It’s something that responsible adults can be trusted to use, but I don’t see legalization as an endorsement, and to the extent it puts it in the same range as tobacco and alcohol, that’s fine with me.

          What have you read on the harmful effects that lead you to that conclusion? I would like to see that evidence.

          I could attach thousands of articles showing marijuana’s relative safety compared to alcohol, but here’s an ok snapshot that took 5 seconds to find.

          Addiction, overdose, public health costs, risk to others – the science is quite clear that alcohol is more dangerous, especially on the public safety/public health front. There are serious concerns about marijuana, especially with use by those whose brains are still developing. All of that is the harder science and doesn’t even begin to cover the issues related to marijuana being an illegal substance and the black market infrastructure (and government response) that has been disastrous for so many communities.

          I’ll be surprised if MA passes it this time, but we should. The country is moving in that direction. We can and should help lead the way on how to do this responsibly.

          Log in to Reply
          • Christopher says

            April 15, 2016 at 12:33 am

            Alcohol is consumed by most people in moderation and may have some benefits. I’m open to marijuana for tightly controlled medical purposes. If I could be a dictator I would in fact ban cigarettes. Gambling is not a drug and I have always thought of that differently anyway, addictive qualities notwithstanding. I’m not doing this again. You are welcome to go back to other threads, but all I will say is I refer my honourable friend to commentary I’ve made previously on this issue.

            Log in to Reply
            • Christopher says

              April 15, 2016 at 12:39 am

              If pot were already legal banning it would not necessarily be a high priority of mine, but in my mind there is no compelling reason to affirmatively say that another drug is OK because freedom or something. You might not take it as an endorsement, but some will and I’m especially concerned about kids. (Yeah, I know, there will be an “age restriction”. How has that worked out for cigarettes and alcohol?)

              Log in to Reply
              • doubleman says

                April 15, 2016 at 8:32 am

                Alcohol is consumed by most people in moderation and may have some benefits.

                The same exact thing goes for marijuana (although with likely more significant benefits for many people). The big difference is that the people who use significant amounts of marijuana won’t die from liver disease in huge numbers (and cost everyone else tons in health expenses). They also won’t kill as many people driving under the influence.

                (Yeah, I know, there will be an “age restriction”. How has that worked out for cigarettes and alcohol?)

                How has keeping it illegal worked for pot? Use rates are still high across age groups but we also have all the horrible effects that come with prohibition – crime, cartels, unjust incarceration, etc. etc. Allowing drinking at 18 caused a lot of problems. We raised the age. It changed things.

                We’ve done prohibition. We know it doesn’t work. We should stop fooling ourselves into thinking we can make it work.

                Log in to Reply
                • Christopher says

                  April 15, 2016 at 8:37 am

                  …the way I do cigarettes. I’ve never had to ask someone to kindly keep their pot smoke from blowing my direction. I’m not asking for heavy incarceration. I did say decriminalization was OK, remember. Your first quoted line is what I anticipated which is why I said medical might be OK, but the fumes of cigarettes and the intoxication of alcohol is not a combination there is any compelling need to affirmatively legalize. Of course, if you really did want to look back at what I’ve commented previously you will find that I have already responded to every single issue you raise. There is nothing new here and I have made up my mind.

                • centralmassdad says

                  April 15, 2016 at 9:48 am

                  you don’t get out much

              • paulsimmons says

                April 16, 2016 at 5:26 pm

                …since it means determining points in light of precedent.

                Given that the most obvious precedent hat comes to mind is Prohibition…

                Log in to Reply
                • Christopher says

                  April 16, 2016 at 7:28 pm

                  I don’t want to legalize another substance yet at the same time am not champing at the bit to ban already legal substances.

                • paulsimmons says

                  April 16, 2016 at 7:56 pm

                  …rather than legalese. A reasonable person might make a conclusion in a way precisely opposite from your intended meaning.

                  Stare decisis does not mean “leaving things be”; it means looking at and citing (legally) decided examples from the past.

                  Remember that legal terms are meant to be specific within their context. The context in this sense is political, but nevertheless a reasonable person will presume that the precedent (Prohibition in this case) makes a case to abolish criminalizing intoxicants.

                  By using “stare decisis” you employed a term that undercut your argument.

                • Christopher says

                  April 16, 2016 at 10:14 pm

                  …which Prohibition isn’t currently. I guess it wasn’t clear that I was meaning it literally rather than as legal doctrine in a court context. (That’s what five years of Latin, the closest I have to a second language, gets me.) The current legislative decisions are that alcohol on cigarettes are legal while pot is not.

  2. marcus-graly says

    April 14, 2016 at 8:40 pm

    You’re not going to win with a “reefer madness” style campaign. You need to convince the voters that this particular law is bad. Go after the control board full of hacks, the loss of local control, etc.

    Log in to Reply
  3. merrimackguy says

    April 15, 2016 at 12:25 am

    Now I’m older and I’m less interested personally ( and would be fired if I failed a drug test) it’s NBD.

    Do we really think more stoned people is a positive thing for our society?

    Log in to Reply
    • centralmassdad says

      April 15, 2016 at 9:49 am

      I think we think that less black market is.

      Log in to Reply
      • SomervilleTom says

        April 15, 2016 at 7:56 pm

        Fully-legalized marijuana could transform marijuana farms in western Massachusetts into a tourist destination for pot smokers in the same way that Northern California wine country has become a nationwide tourist destination for wine lovers.

        Marijuana could be a significant cash crop, and could bring much needed revenue back to desperately struggling western Massachusetts property owners.

        The possible harmful effects of legalized marijuana pale in comparison to the well-documented impact of the predatory casino gambling industry that we are currently inviting into the state.

        Log in to Reply
  4. jconway says

    April 15, 2016 at 8:16 am

    The only difference under the proposed law is that now they are taxpayers and small businesses contributing to the economy instead of taxeaters in prison cells contributing to cartels causing violence and mayhem south of the border.

    Log in to Reply
  5. SomervilleTom says

    April 15, 2016 at 8:05 pm

    One of the more egregious canards about marijuana is the claim that it is a “gateway drug” that introduces adolescents into other more dangerous habits.

    Most of the alleged harm attributed to marijuana is, in fact, a consequence of its prohibition. The “war on drugs” launched by Ronald Reagan had several immediate effects:

    1. It raised the street price of weed so that far more dangerous drugs (such as cocaine) were price-competitive
    2. It took the amateur weed dealers out of the game, so that adolescents bought from full-bore agents of organized crime rather than friends and peers
    3. It made weed traffic far more profitable for organized crime, so that it became much more aggressive in eliminating amateur competition.

    The effect of legalizing marijuana nationwide will be to reverse these. The effect of THAT will be, in fact, to raise — rather than lower— the barriers separating marijuana consumption from other more dangerous drugs.

    Log in to Reply
    • merrimackguy says

      April 15, 2016 at 9:25 pm

      More stoned people on weed is much better than less stoned people on harder drugs. It’s especially true in poorer neighborhoods.

      Log in to Reply
      • rcmauro says

        April 15, 2016 at 10:31 pm

        At our town meeting they passed a “just-for-show” resolution trying to avert a dispensary that already has a permit to open here. The next evening, I was at an event with a bunch of pharmacists, and they were laughing at some of the arguments that had been presented. These are people that have been on the front lines of the opioid crisis and seen it all. They just could not see getting upset about cannabis when some doctors have been handing out legal heroin like it was candy.

        Log in to Reply
        • jotaemei says

          August 31, 2016 at 5:22 pm

          These are people that have been on the front lines of the opioid crisis and seen it all. They just could not see getting upset about cannabis when some doctors have been handing out legal heroin like it was candy.

          Something important to remember to put into perspective the concern trolling and fear-mongering from the prohibitionists.

          (Bumped).

          Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recommended Posts

  • Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid Primaries (3)
  • There Is Not A Chance the White House is Happy With This Timing (3)
  • Promises made, promises kept (1)
  • Real “Center” is Economically Nationalist/Culturally Moderate (1)

Recent User Posts

Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid Primaries

August 12, 2022 By jconway 7 Comments

There Is Not A Chance the White House is Happy With This Timing

August 10, 2022 By terrymcginty 8 Comments

Site issue: Unable to reply to comments

August 10, 2022 By SomervilleTom 2 Comments

Why do PUKES oppose $35 insulin for diabetics with private insurance?

August 8, 2022 By fredrichlariccia 3 Comments

Promises made, promises kept

August 8, 2022 By fredrichlariccia Leave a Comment

Schedule F

August 7, 2022 By johntmay 4 Comments

Recent Comments

  • SomervilleTom on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesTommy Vitolo was directly responsible for the Brookline…
  • SomervilleTom on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesThis comment exemplifies why I'm done with "Progressive…
  • Keith Bernard on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesDon't get mad at Progressive Mass because Tommy Vitolo i…
  • fredrichlariccia on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesThe other half of Wakefield (Precincts 4 - 6) is in the…
  • fredrichlariccia on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesThe 9th Essex district James and I share as fellow Wakef…
  • fredrichlariccia on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesYou hit the nail on the head here. Namely: Holier than T…
  • SomervilleTom on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesI appreciate you writing this diary. This primary seems…

Archive

@bluemassgroup on Twitter

#mapoli

massauditor Suzanne M. Bump @massauditor ·
8m

You can help us make government work better. Tell us where you see waste and abuse by government agencies or contractors. https://www.mass.gov/how-to/report-waste-and-abuse #MAPoli

Reply on Twitter 1559249866194313218 Retweet on Twitter 1559249866194313218 Like on Twitter 1559249866194313218 Twitter 1559249866194313218
repsmitty34 Smitty Pignatelli @repsmitty34 ·
9m

AG and candidate for Governor @maura_healey is my guest on this week's episode of 'Let's Talk with Smitty.' She has taken on the biggest fights as the people's lawyer and will be a Governor for ALL of us. Visit https://linktr.ee/repsmitty to listen.
#mapoli

Reply on Twitter 1559249722644258821 Retweet on Twitter 1559249722644258821 Like on Twitter 1559249722644258821 1 Twitter 1559249722644258821
strat4youth Strategies for Youth @strat4youth ·
14m

Be an informed voter for youth justice! Join the voter education forum in-person or virtually on August 16 from 1:30-3 PM. Learn more and register today: https://lnkd.in/ejEaKtXB #mapoli

Reply on Twitter 1559248429624266756 Retweet on Twitter 1559248429624266756 Like on Twitter 1559248429624266756 Twitter 1559248429624266756
darraghcmurphy Darragh Murphy @darraghcmurphy ·
14m

I hope every voter in Suffolk Co reads and rereads this comment until they understand the implications of having a DA Arroyo so inexperienced that he is not qualified to sit as SECOND chair on a Suffolk Co murder trial as prosecutor or public defender. #BosPoli #MaPoli #NoArroyos

Jessamyn Jones @jessamynejones

@orennimni This comment is woefully ignorant & verifiably false. Hayden spent 2x as many years as a defense attorney than Arroyo. Arroyo has so little experience that he does not meet the reqs to lead a jury trial, or even sit 2nd chair on a murder trial, as a public defender or ADA.

Reply on Twitter 1559248399660195842 Retweet on Twitter 1559248399660195842 Like on Twitter 1559248399660195842 Twitter 1559248399660195842
darraghcmurphy Darragh Murphy @darraghcmurphy ·
20m

Substantive question for @RicardoNArroyo that would help voters differentiate his #SuffolkDA candidacy from DA Hayden’s. Will Ricardo answer? Go after illegal guns or nah, Ricardo? #BosPoli & #MaPoli

Jessamyn Jones @jessamynejones

This account also loves to criticize @dakevinhayden for enforcing gun laws in communities most grievously impacted by gun violence. Does @ricardonarroyo agree w/ @CourtWatchMA that DA should deemphasize illegal gun possession? Will it be on his expanded #DNPlist? #bospoli #mapoli https://twitter.com/CourtWatchMA/status/1559220406371995648

Reply on Twitter 1559246767107047425 Retweet on Twitter 1559246767107047425 Like on Twitter 1559246767107047425 Twitter 1559246767107047425
scmurnane Steven Murnane Jr @scmurnane ·
20m

Voting to tank the #NoCostCalls bill, and now endorsing DA Hayden over @RicardoNArroyo? I think its time for her to go. #mapoli

Lydia Edwards @LydiaMEdwards

Happy to endorse @DAKevinHayden for DA! https://twitter.com/dakevinhayden/status/1559176032732811267

Reply on Twitter 1559246757724315649 Retweet on Twitter 1559246757724315649 1 Like on Twitter 1559246757724315649 1 Twitter 1559246757724315649
Load More

From our sponsors




Google Calendar







Search

Archives

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter




Copyright © 2022 Owned and operated by BMG Media Empire LLC. Read the terms of use. Some rights reserved.