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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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US: Local Ballot Questions Speak To Pot, Nukes
Thursday 09 Nov 2000 Website: http://www.bostonherald.com/ Author: Jack Sullivan The people have spoken and they want marijuana decriminalized and available for medicinal purposes, universal health care and the halt to the controversial MCAS tests. And, they said, do something about nuclear weapons. The issues were some of the 25 local ballot questions in communities around the state. Some, such as Proposition 2 overrides and changes in county goverments, became law. Others, such as the marijuana and health care questions, were nonbinding referenda directing state lawmakers to vote in favor of such actions. "We did it to find out how the people in the district really feel in a blind poll," said Steven Epstein of Georgetown, a member of the Massachusetts Cannibis Reform Coalition. "It just shouldn't be a crime. We're talking about a substance we can be pretty sure both presidential candidates have smoked." The measure to ask lawmakers in Essex and Middlesex counties to introduce decriminalization bills passed by overwhelming margins. A similar question the group put on the ballot on the Cape to allow marijuana for medicinal purposes also passed 62 percent to 37 percent, roughly the same margin as the others. State Rep. Shirley Gomes (R-Harwich), whose eight-town district was the focus of the question, said she was surprised by the voters sentiment but would not commit to following through. "With the sentiment being expressed so emphatically, I have to be open- minded," she said. "But can I vote for something that is against federal law? I've never been faced with that before.." In Arlington and Medford, voters directed their state representative by a 3 to 1 margin to support a resolution calling on the United States to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty of 1970. State Rep. James Marzilli (D-Arlington) said he will introduce and support the resolution because of the vote, because he believes in the cause and because his wife is a member of the group that placed the question on the ballot. Marzilli acknowledged some may look derisively on the question but said ballot questions are one of the best avenues for groups to open public discussion. "If people listened even just for a few minutes to facts surrounding U.S. expenditures for arms, it will have served its purpose even if there a few snickers in the background," he said.
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