Marijuana Blog

In November voters in Massachusetts will be voting on, among other things, whether or not to legalize medical marijuana. So far, law enforcement officials who came out against a marijuana decriminalization measure in 2008 are taking a softer view on this issue, at least as far as campaigning against it.

“I don’t intend, right now, to do any campaigning on this issue. I’ve let people know where I stand,” said Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early, who is president of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association.

Early said he personally opposes the initiative because it’s too broad and could allow marijuana prescriptions for too many ailments. “I see the headaches that California had . . . You want to make sure you get this right and you have to learn from other people’s mistakes,” he said.

But Early says he sees merit in medical marijuana itself. “My take is this: I have compassion and no problem helping someone who is dying from a cancer that could benefit by helping them keep food down through the use of medical marijuana,” he said. “I’ve also had friends who’ve died from cancer who may have benefited from medical marijuana but did not try marijuana because it is illegal to do so.”

Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone addressed the issue in a statement: "I remain open to considering the legal use of medical marijuana, if there is clear and convincing evidence to a reasonable degree of medical and scientific certainty that the medical benefits of marijuana cannot be obtained in any other way or form, and provided that proper regulatory measures are in place to ensure that there is systemic accountability that prevents abuse in distributing, obtaining and using medical marijuana.”

In 2008 the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association came out against decriminalization, but they have yet to take a position on medical marijuana. Will the silence of law enforcement help medical marijuana pass in MA this fall?

Source: http://www.bostonherald.com