BREAKING: Massachusetts introduces marijuana legalization bills
Monday, March 23rd, 2009 at 7:46 pm | By: Radical Russ
California’s highly publicized effort to legalize the commercial cultivation and sale of cannabis is getting some well-deserved company!
A pair of bills — House Bill 2929 and Senate Bill 1801 — seeking to “tax and regulate the cannabis industry” have just been introduced in the Massachusetts legislature.
These proposals seek to legally regulate the commercial production and distribution of marijuana for adults over 21 years of age. Like California’s proposal, they would impose licensing requirements and excise taxes on the retail sale of cannabis. By some estimates, these taxes could raise nearly $100 million in annual state revenue.
Adults who possess or grow marijuana for personal use, or who engage in the non-profit transfer of cannabis, would not be subject to taxation under the law.
You can read more about these bills at the new website: http://www.cantaxreg.com. If you live in Massachusetts, we urge you to write your elected officials in support of H. 2929 and S. 1801 by going here.
“Decades of whispered grumblings about the wisdom and efficacy of prohibition is rapidly giving way to a serious—really serious public discussion about how to replace it,” said former NORML Board Member Richard Evans, who assisted in drafting the landmark legislation. “Those who consider themselves leaders in government and the media have the obligation to either show how prohibition can be made to work, or join in the exploration of alternatives.”
We can’t think of a better place to begin this discussion on the east coast than Massachusetts, where last November 65 percent of voters endorsed a statewide initiative reclassifying marijuana possession as a fine-only offense under state law. Will a majority of Bay State voters also support legalization? We may soon find out!
LOVE THIS
i can only imagine what it would be like
hope this goes through
“Will a majority of Bay State voters also support legalization? We may soon find out!”
Not happening. Won’t even make it out of either chamber never mind get the governor’s sig. In MA, we’ll be lucky to get medical marijuana passed at the state house. A bill that actually has more than one co-sponsor. With the medical bill in MA, having a real shot, I think it’s unfortunate NORML is focusing on a bill that has no chance. On a bill that I as a diehard marijuana reform activist, don’t even like. I think the bill stinks. Sorry.
Marijuana re-crim in MA has more support at the state house than legalization? I think so.
I know everybody wants legalization but let’s focus on what we can actually pass. And a good bill, which MA’s medical bill definitely is!
See the protest planned of Senator Scott Brown’s marijuana re-crim bill for some more positive out of MA. The Senator didn’t know what hit him between the facebook groups and messages, emails, and phone calls. If he doesn’t like the protest, he needs to sign up and support the medical bill!
http://www.mikecann.net/2009/03/senator-scott-browns-office-tries-to.html