Over the recent months I have had the pleasure of observing the work that folks have been doing in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in regards to Marijuana Decriminalization. New Hampshire's HB 1623 that would decriminalize marijuana up to a quarter of an ounce was not "Supposed" to pass the house. Thankfully the legislators of the Granite State where professing dismay to the idea of students losing their financial aid for mistake.
Massachusetts is in a much more interesting position. The reality of the situation is that the ballot initiative in November will pass, I say this confidently due to the successful sweep of non-binding ballot questions over the years on the subject of Decriminalization. This puts the elected officials of Mass in a unique position. They can pass one of the two decriminalization bills on their way through the committee right now, write new legislation combining the bills, put their own decriminalization initiative on the ballot, or play it politically safe and just wait for the voters of MA to do it themselves. Something tells me this one is going to be up to the people.
Right now politicians on either sides of the aisle in both states are talking a lot of madness, its all over the place. I recommend checking out the MA and NH sections of Mapinc.org to see some of the offenders. However if you really want to see someone make a fool of them self in public check out Democratic Representative Martin Walsh from Dorchester Testify his take on the bill he "knows nothing about." He is quickly becoming an internet star at http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kx4gM_B17RE
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