Massachusetts MMJ laws going into effect by May

[Alone]

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/03/massachusetts_to_release_draft.html

It sounds like its gonna be a government run business rather than privately run dispenceries.

 

[castout]

I am watching very closely what goes on in Ma. I hope they get it right.

 

[Alone]

Castout ~ The scriptures you wrote in your signature is exactly what Im going through.
Being rejected by the Religeous Leaders of the Church.
I am extremely afflicted and my heart is broken for those that claim to be followers of Christ and yet preach contrary to the gospel of Jesus and think they are preaching truth, because they dont really understand the Lord.
A true born-again follower of Christ will not only walk as He walked, but suffer as He suffered. TYSVM for writing these down. They just uplifted my spirit like a rushing spring of fresh water.

 

[Alone]

Here is a link to get the laws:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/133005614

 

[masshole61]

Alone, did you see any provisions for cultivars like us? Looks like home growing is extremely prohibitive... Pricks...

 

[Alone]

It says that a grower can grow their own, ONLY under HARDSHIP status.

 

[Slip Kid]

Anybody have $500K I could borrow??I can only imagine who is going to be doing the cultivating here.Ridiculous.So should you grab a card if you qualify so that you can buy expensive beasters from 24 yr old master growers with huge bank rolls? I've yet to meet a "master" grower with access to 500K.Maybe I could be the waterboy for some well to do toker!

 

[Alone]

I was gonna have a long talk and possibly a business plan with a multi-millionaire I know and do work for. We are like family.
BUT.....with legal dispenceries getting raided and shut down all over the map... I think its futile. Why risk the investment when the Feds can take it all away.
I dont want to be another statistic like Matt Shotwell.

 

[J.A.G.]

Personally, I don't want to be anything like Matt Shotwell. I hate that part in the show when he sees somebody he knows going up to Trinitycounty:
"What are you doing?"
"Going up to Trinity."
"What for?"
'What you think, to get tree."
Schmuck.

Anyways, Thanks Alone for posting this info & links. There was a article in the Globe yesterday too.
Pros(so far)- Having MMJ legislation be put forth; letting MDs decide who needs it
Cons(so far)- $500K in escrow needed to apply for dispensary permit; trying to force patients to buy from dispensaries.

 

[BasementGrower]

we dont need anymore middle men.. period.. grrower to smoker

 

[westernmass420]

these laws seem f##ked and only slightly less bass ackwards than CT's

 

[westernmass420]

I hope theirs some amendments to it, and I'm sure clinic owners are going to love having/being forced to give discounted med's to lower income patients (which may mean they'll charge the sh*t outtah non low income patients). changes are going to need to be made for sure because these clinics sound like they are gonna suck, that hardship thing should be lifted in favor of any patient getting to produce their own meds. I'm with basementgrower we need no more middle men, thats been a plauge to most if not all med patients who have had to rely on black market/street connections...getting ripped off at $500 or more an oz for consistant quality meds

 

[Slip Kid]

My question is this.If I go and pickup a rec, can I grow one giant plant? My best guess is that it will take a long time for dispenseries to open, who knows.What qualifies you as a caregiver, having a card? I apologize if I've missed some blatant paragraph in the law but I can't figure it out at the moment.How many plants can be grown, 12, 1, 24??

 

[Alone]

we dont need anymore middle men.. period.. grrower to smoker

Every cesspool has leaches.
Middlemen are leaches on the system. If a grower has trouble getting rid of meds...maybe they arent that good in the first place. Get better genetics, not more middlemen.

 

[Slip Kid]

Look how long RI took to open up a dispensary? I have so much respect for RI, it's not funny.It's been the bastion of freedom since Roger Williams showed up...and who were they running from...the lunatics in Massachusetts!! Most of us know the politics of Rhody and the fact that there aren't 100 dispos is a miracle.Even for some big time dude, putting up the $ and potentially interacting with the feds is too risky when other ventures in which they may or may not edeavor could be compromised.Christ in Mass you can't even shuck a scallop in your basement anymore.I'm not mad but I don't want to miss the boat. Hugs for RI...

 

[BasementGrower]

too many people dont wana risk there cash to have it all taken .. even if u do make a few mill before the FBI comes in... they will take everything leaving u worse off then u were before.. i think there plan is.. to get rid of people who are for the movement and that will waste mad money on opening up a business.. then they say ok. lets let it get busy.. make some fuckin cash.. then raid them. take everything. and put the dude in jail / debt up to his eye balls.. and thats it.. another dispensary gone.. another rich dude in jail.. the plan to go into a police state and start martial law is on its way people.. watch out.. becareful.. all they need now that its a bill .. is for us to ask for it.. so .. id rather die .. then go to a Fema Camp.

 

[mayan]

The good? It sounds like patients can negotiate with their doctor and will not be restricted to having one of only seven dire illnessess or conditions - IF a patient wants to go that route. Also, I think the amount one can possess for medical purposes seems fairly reasonable - again, IF a person wants to go the route of getting a scrip.

The bad? This growing thing - sounds like they are backwards in their attempts to prevent growing (which they can't enforce already, btw). BAD! Two things I'm keeping in mind - I'm thinking that modest-size grows (i.e. personal) are not in danger now and will be even less in danger after the regs - EVEN IF growing is still illegal. With decrim and now med in place -as an actual matter- I would bet that most LEO are going to be uninterested. But as a practical matter are they going to want to spend a lot of effort busting someone for growing what they would be allowed to possess with a med card?

Also - not that this means much - but these are not the law yet. These are draft regulations and there still has to be further public comment and -I think- legislative weigh in. So - if there are public hearings, consider attending. I'm not expecting much improvement given the continued antipathy of many legislators but positive changes could occur with public input and working on reps and senators?

And who knows - perhaps there will be a court challenge - particularly if someone gets popped for growing a personal stash while in possession of a scrip. I guess I'm taking the foot-in-the-door approach to this while being quite disappointed in the Neandrathal approach of "we don't want to be Colorado or California."

 

[DreamsofTesla]

Russ Belville did a comprehensive breakdown on the new law in MA. One of the things he pointed out was that anyone with a drug conviction won't be able to work at a dispensary. So they're basically trying to keep our community out of the business of, um, our community.

 

[rasputin]

The good? It sounds like patients can negotiate with their doctor and will not be restricted to having one of only seven dire illnessess or conditions - IF a patient wants to go that route. Also, I think the amount one can possess for medical purposes seems fairly reasonable - again, IF a person wants to go the route of getting a scrip.

What do you mean, can negotiate with their doctor? Negotiate what?

Doc's can write rec's for pretty much anyone, per the draft. In that regard it's a lot like California. That's about where the similarity ends. Call me cynical but I think they did that so they can get as many 'patients' as possible.

I don't share your optimism that non-licensed growers will get off easy because they could be doing something similar while legal if only they had a card. I think the exact opposite will occur. They want people to buy from the centers for a reason. I imagine penalties will be worse for anyone that deviates from the state approved methods of distribution. How else will they be able to enforce compliance?

I guess I'm taking the foot-in-the-door approach to this while being quite disappointed in the Neandrathal approach of "we don't want to be Colorado or California."

They want to be exactly like Colorado. Read the draft. Seed to sale control. Centers have to grow their own. They are following and expanding upon the CO blueprint.

 

[Slip Kid]

Let me put it this way.Mass people are so liberal that they're conservative!! They don't know it but they make Reagan look like Obummer.They are forcing their crazy agenda on everybody..."Oh, I'm feeling like a woman today, I'll use the womens restroom."That's OK up here.A 6th grader calls another kid a "fag" it's hate crime...the one thing we have on our side is they consider drugs, whatever drugs they are, to be a health problem.No one I've ever known has gone to jail for cannabis, ever and I've known quite a few who've been busted.6lbs will get ya' 6 months probation and the judge says "Can you refrain from this behavior for 6 months sir?" This happens everyday up here, then the guy gets welfare and food stamps until he can sell again!!! I apologize if I don't know what I'm talking about but, the whackos up here are looped!!! Here's another good one.A guy rapes a girl in a church basement.She ends up pregnant.The rapist gets a lawyer and sues for visitation and he gets it.Now you tell me this place isn't upside down!!