Friday, December 21, 2012
The State Department of Public Health is working on coming up with statewide regulations.
As municipalities across Massachusetts await medical marijuana regulations from the State Department of Public Health, the Boston City Council is preparing the city the best it can for medical marijuana come January 1. The state has a 120-day window starting Jan. 1 to create regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries, but the state law states medical marijuana dispensaries can be opened on Jan. 1. The state law also says anyone who receives a prescription from their physician can then legally grow their own marijuana. District 5 City Councilor Rob Consalvo, chair of the Committee on Public Safety, said the city is continuing to work on creating zoning to allow medical marijuana dispensaries. Consalvo has said medical marijuana …
42.36029
-71.057309
Boston City Council
1 City Hall Sq Ste 550, Boston, MA
/articles/starting-january-1-you-can-grow-your-own-marijuana-with-a-dr-s-prescription
1601222
/locations/8429236
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Boston will be updating its zoning code to permit medical marijuana dispensaries in specific areas around the city.
Massachusetts voters spoke loud and clearly on Election Day by overwhelmingly supporting the legalization of medical marijuana starting January 1. Now Boston has to figure out where the medical marijuana dispensaries will be within the city. District 5 City Councilor Rob Consalvo led the charge at Wednesday's Boston City Council meeting, saying while they don't know how many facilities the city will get yet, it's clear they will get some. "I’m proposing what we do regularly - update our zoning code," Consalvo said. "This will be my seventh effort of amending the zoning code. Clearly this is a new use and a new change in front of us." But first the state needs to provide regulations, "We don’t know how the state regulations will take …
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
City Councilor Rob Consalvo estimated that Boston will get about four medical marijuana dispensaries in 2013. Now where will they be located?
The Boston City Council on Wednesday will begin its discussion of how Boston will handle the legalization of medical marijuana. "We respect the will of voters," said District 5 City Councilor Rob Consalvo, who filed an order to hold the necessary hearing. "In the first year alone 35 dispensaries are to open up (in Massachusetts), and it's unlimited after that." Consalvo said he is guessing that Boston will start with four dispensaries due to it having 10 percent of the state's population. He said he was unaware of whether there is a difference between medical dispensaries and growing facilities, but that will be discussed at the hearing. An unlike several Massachusetts municipalities, such as Reading, which created zoning rules to not …
Friday, November 9, 2012
The medical marijuana ballot initiative passed on Tuesday, which means up to 35 medical marijuana dispensaries can open in 2013. Would you be OK with having one in your neighborhood?
Medical marijuana is coming to Massachusetts. The question is: where? The medical marijana ballot initiative that passed in Tuesdays election with 63 percent voter approval means that up to 35 medical marijuana dispensaries can open up in the state in 2013. The new law goes into effect January 1, but requires rules and regulations be set up by the Department of Public Health. Some towns and cities, such as Quincy, reportedly are already trying to line up regulations that would keep dispensaries out of their municipalities, which have proved troublesome in some of the nine states where medical marijuana dispensaries have been legal. What do you think? Is this a classic case of NIMBY (fine, but Not In My Back Yard)? Or do medical marijuana …
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Find out what a yes or no vote on Question 3 will mean.
On Nov. 6, Massachusetts voters will be asked to vote on three questions along with the state and federal political races. Question 3 is regarding the legalization of medical marijuana. "This proposed law would eliminate state criminal and civil penalties for the medical use of marijuana by qualifying patients. To qualify, a patient must have been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition," the Massachusetts Secretary of State's website says. According to the website a "yes" vote would allow for patients to smoke marijuana if it is prescribed by a doctor. A "no" vote would make no change to the current law and keep the practice illegal.
Friday, September 28, 2012
The governor, during a live chat with Patch, expressed skepticism about the legalization of medical marijuana, though he sympathized with patients in pain.
Governor 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 …
David Ertischek
5:06 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
All Boston City Council meetings are open to the public and this one is scheduled for noon. They are a Boston City Hall.   more ›