Walden Forum Speakers Take on Medical Marijuana Debate

Dr. Kevin Sabet and Dr. Jeffrey Miron debated the cons and pros, respectively, of Ballot Question 3 which deals with legalizing medical marijuana.

WaylandCares Representative Talks with WGBH About Marijuana Question

Heidi Heilman, advocate with WaylandCares and president of the Massachusetts Prevention Alliance, was one of several interviews as part of a segment on the Emily Rooney show.

Massachusetts voters in November will head to the polls not only to elect new political officials, but also to decide on several ballot questions, one of which addresses the hot topic of medical marijuana. The Emily Rooney show on WGBH recently tackled the topic of Ballot Question 3. Kevin Sabet, an opponent of the question, and Matt Allen, a proponent of the question, spoke with Rooney during the show. In addition, Heilman talked about her concerns regarding the approval of medical cannibis in Massachusetts. Check out the 11-minute video and tell us your thoughts in the comments. Do you know how you will vote on Question 3 in November?

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Governor Says He Will 'Probably' Vote Against Marijuana Ballot Question

The governor, during a live chat with Patch, expressed skepticism about the legalization of medical marijuana, though he sympathized with patients in pain.

Gov. Deval Patrick said he would likely vote no on Question Three this fall. During a Thursday live chat with Patch, a reader asked Patrick how he would vote on the ballot question and whether the governor was for or against the legalization of cannabis.  "I am not too energized on this issue, personally. California's experience has been mixed. I will probably vote against it. I respect the opposing view, though, especially those whose concern is for people in constant pain," wrote the governor in response.  Proponents say medical marijuana will help ease the pain and suffering of cancer patients and other eligible residents. Opponents, meanwhile, say the law is a back door to full legalization, and that medical marijuana can be dangerous…

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Walden Forum Tackles Medical Marijuana Question

Voters will decide the issue themselves in November with Ballot Question 3.

The below is a press release from Walden Forum. The Massachusetts Medical Marijuana initiative, also known as Question 3, will go to ballot vote on Nov. 6, 2012. The measure would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. It has become a passionate and heated debate for Massachusetts’ citizens and the Walden Forum is bringing it front and center to Wayland. When:  Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. Where:  Wayland High School auditorium Who: Kevin Sabet, Ph.D. has a doctorate in public policy analysis from Oxford University with emphasis on drug policy, prevention, enforcement and legalization. A resident of Cambridge, he is the president of the Policy Solutions Lab and also directs the Drug Policy Institute at the University of Florida…

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Brooklyn Lowery

8:20 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012

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Justice Hears Arguments Related to Pot Ballot Question

A decision is expected next week or two.

The Massachusetts Prevention Alliance (MAPA) expects to learn in the next week or two whether its lawsuit calling for clarified wording in a potential November ballot question will be successful. In May, MAPA filed a lawsuit asking that the wording of the ballot question itself as well as the voter information related to that question be modified for a potential question related to the legalization of medical marijuana in Massachusetts. Robert J. Cordy, an associate justice on the tate Supreme Judicial Court, heard arguments in the lawsuit on Monday, and Heidi Heilman said she was overall pleased with how the hearing went. "The [attorney general] essentially adopted the language proponents used in the ballot initiative and have been using …

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Justice to Hear Pot Ballot Initiative Lawsuit Monday

The Massachusetts Prevention Alliance, of which WaylandCares is a member, is seeking clarification of a proposed medical marijuana ballot initiative.

Coalition Files Lawsuit Related to Marijuana Ballot Initiative

The Massachusetts Prevention Alliance filed the lawsuit on May 16.

The Massachusetts Prevention Alliance, of which WaylandCares is a member, has filed a petition with the Supreme Judicial Court of Suffolk County seeking the clarification of language in a likely ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana. The lawsuit specifically calls into question the title, statement (a sentence addressing the effect of a "yes" or "no" vote) and summary of the ballot initiative, which together "form a fabric of voter information," according to the court petition. All three items of information appear in the voter's guide the state distributes and the statement and summary also appear on the ballot itself. Attorney General Martha Coakley's office has already certified the ballot initiative titled, "An Act for the …

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Statewide Alliance Focuses on Policy and Youth Well-Being

The Massachusetts Prevention Alliance is focused on providing resources and advocating for "sound public health and safety policies to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Massachusetts youth."

Local organizations and representatives from throughout Massachusetts gathered in Needham last month with two specific efforts in mind: educating the public about reducing youth substance abuse and addressing "the immediate medicinal marijuana threat in Massachusetts." Representatives from WaylandCares, a coalition dedicated to reducing youth substance abuse in Wayland, attended that meeting at Needham Town Hall, which served as the kickoff gathering of MAPA, the Massachusetts Prevention Alliance. In fact, WaylandCares Director Heidi Heilman helped spearhead the formation of the alliance. “The Massachusetts Prevention Alliance is a statewide organization that provides educational resources and advocates for sound public health and safety …

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