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GRAFTON, Mass. — It's difficult to determine how Grafton will comply with the commonwealth's complex new medical marijuana laws, health agent Lois Luniewicz said Monday night as she updated her board on a listening session she attended in Worcester.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health held the session Feb. 13 to gather public opinion as it works on regulations on how medicinal marijuana should be dispensed in Massachusetts.
“The DPH really have their hands full,” Luniewicz said. “There is so much to think about.”
In November, voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question legalizing medical marijuana in Massachusetts. In Grafton, nearly 59 percent voted to approve the measure.
The new law will allow 35 centers to open in the state next year, with a maximum of five per county, and will allow a patient to possess a 60-day supply.
But Grafton and other towns are awaiting direction from the state. Under law, the department has until the end of April to provide details on what defines as a 60-day supply, who would be qualified to run the dispensaries and how they must be licensed and regulated.
But there was discussion Feb. 13 about allowing communities with smaller populations and fewer public transportation resources to be granted a disproportionate number of centers, Luniewicz said.
Many in attendance also advocated that the new regulation stipulate each physician should be recommending the dosage based on the medical condition of each patient, she said.
In addition, she said some Worcester apartment building owners said local health ordinances ban smoking but the medical marijuana issue complicates that ban.
“I don’t understand how any state can pass a regulation that supersedes any federal law,” Luniewicz said Monday night.
There is no talk of modifying the existing bylaws to restrict a marijuana dispensary location in town, Grafton’s zoning enforcement officer Robert Berger said in an interview Monday afternoon.
Comments (32)
“I don’t understand how any state can pass a regulation that supersedes any federal law,” Luniewicz said Monday night."
So we can expect you to start extraditing illegal immigrants tomorrow?
Here is why doctors don't want Marijuana legal:
Some cancer docs say their income tied to treatments
http://www.lifescript.com/health/news/reuters/2012/12/26/some_cancer_docs_say_their_income_tied_to_treatments.aspx
You make more money treating a disease rather than curing it.
Marijuana CURES CANCER!!!
And according to the GOVERNMENT!!!
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/page4
Why else does the government hold the patent for Marijuana saying it has NO medical value while the patent they have says it does??
the federal government has patent #6630507 on the medical value of marijuana!
Medical Marijuana and Aging…..
http://medicalmarijuana.com/experts/expert/title.cfm?artID=826
Mary do you wanna is the spice of the devil. How dare this town even think of bringing Satan and his evil workings to our good people. We have no bars. We have no dancing. We have no sig y are ettes. Why or why would we allow this? It's the devil. The DEVIL! Next thing you know we'll be wanting to spend tax revenue on pet projects of the TA or buying tracts of land to protect the BoS members who are abutters.
Which town do you live in? We have bars in Grafton, we have dances (including operation friendship) Cigarettes (which is spelled correctly as opposed to "sig y are ettes") are also allowed, considering the buyer is over the age of 18. I don't smoke; however, those who suffer from disorders and can find help, should. Would you deny a patient from an ease of a disease? Claiming that this is the "devil" or "satan" is over stepping the line (don't you believe in the good as the following: Saint Patrick, Saint Peter, Mother Mary, God and Jesus? Please their were 12 apostles, and only one "devil")! The vote was concerning "medicinal Marijuana". Have you considered that the medical field may have found that marijuana may demean those "devil spirits"? I have noticed that you are anonymous. This means to me that you are running scared of the opinions others have of you and your opinions. This may mean that you are superficial and running scared of yourself. The dances which Grafton does host bring the children closer in a safe environment (and does not include homework). It is an opportunity to get to know one-another outside of school. Hats-off to all that participate and Support Operation Friendship! LOL that that you wrote "Mary do you wanna is the spice of the devil" Grafton has a far more logical and realistic way of explaining the harms of marijuana. Perhaps, you should participate. I am not connected to the Grafton Police Department, but I do know that they control with this town very well. The kids respect the DARE program and it is a huge asset to this town. Please keep your eyes open and know that there are more positives in life than negatives.
^ Sarcasm is lost on some people as we can see here.
Um...as the article noted 59% of Grafton voted in favor. This isn't the gov't forcing something on us...this isn't crack dealers forcing something on us....this is 'us' saying yes to something. Get angry, get hyper, grind your anti-gov axe, pontificate about common sense and ignorant people...but remember Grafton ('us') voted yes.
Just another way to keep the everyday citizen under thumb. Typical government in its purest form. You can't smoke outside legally in this town anymore. What's next? Public forms of affection banned too? To steal a phrase from you hard-copy competitor, "Welcome to Grafton, if there's anyway to keep you from....." You know rest of the line.
Too sad,,, What did you think of their churches??
Who cares about weed. Alcohol, tobacco are both way worse for you.. I would rather be high around a bunch of stoners. Rather than going out to a bar and being around a room full of drunk people.. I had cancer and pain meds don't work all the time.. I smoked weed the whole time I was sick. Best thing that I did for myself at that time. I am cancer free now, but the doctor thinks I should keep smoking marijuana in Moderation.. The point is who cares.. Take the tax money and be done with it! Grafton should worry about all the sex offenders and alcoholics that live in this town..
This is medical marijuana so it should be dispensed in the same manner as all other controlled medications through the pharmacies. The MD will determine the amount to be dispensed as is with all other medication. Just dispense the stuff like every other medication, if it is not broke don't fix it, but then again MA likes to reinvent the wheel at every opportunity.
Hooah! Bring on the tax revenue :-D
Nate, your young and wrong to celebrate! Here's the truth... if you work, your taxes are never going down, in spite of what additional taxes the government takes in.
Is Massachusetts offering you a tax reduction because of this vote?
It's not about the money,, It's about liberty, freedom and the American way>
Marijuana good
Marijuana law BAD!
It is amazing that getting an abortion is easier than getting high on Marijuana, and legal to!
So, someone tell me why we need special "dispensaries" (i.e...head shops) to dispense "medical" marijuana.
1) If it is really medical, why is it not controlled the same way all other medical prescriptions are controlled?
2) Why is it not dispensed through drug stores? They are already set up to take prescriptions or scripts, from legit doctors, carefully measure the amounts, and sell to legitimate customers.
3) Why do we need to set up something special, which will cost more tax money to license and control, be supervised by political hacks, ... oh, wait...I think I see the answer. Nevermind.
All this fear of something that has never killed anyone and is so much safer than alcohol or cigarettes.
Why do people make things so hard?
Just roll it out in the current liquor stores. I mean all the safeguards we want are in place there.
Think about it. When Marijuana becomes fully legal for adults, who is REALLY going to suffer?
Alcohol and tobacco retailers. (The main reason that it is illegal.)
I'm sure they did not have this type of "hysteria" when alcohol prohibition was repealed!
Why? Because when you are stoned, you cannot safely drive a car.
At least, that's what I heard. I have no direct experience...ahem...not me...nope... That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
retracted
And when you are on MANY LEGAL drugs you should not operate machinery or a car,,, So whats your point?
Common sense is not that common I know, but, If driving "intoxicated" is your worry, why don't you start a campaign to close any establishment that provides ANY type of intoxicant.
Let's start with the liquor stores. we ALL know alcohol IS poison, right?
How many alcohol poisonings are in the news LATELY??
Google it!!!
Sorry I misread what I was replying to. I wasn't bad mouthing marijuana
It's not that complicated, grow it, smoke it, laugh, eat, sleep, repeat.
If pot is to be used as a medicine, then it should be dispensed as a medicine at our local pharmacies.
But if the State goes against traditional medical dispensing of medicinal pot, then I'm sure the town's new experimental open zoning policy in South Grafton will become our town's little Amsterdam.
Fat chance of seeing marijuana dispensed at our local pharmacies. Maybe back in the day before the mom and pop pharmacies were run out of business by insurance companies and chain pharmacies. As long as marijuana is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law you won't see it, to risky for them.
I wonder what's going to happen at hospitals when cancer patients bring in marijuana prescribed to cope with chemotherapy-related nausea. What if a patient wants to smoke a marijuana cigarette prior to, or while receiving chemo treatment. How will they handle that situation?
I'm all for the little Amsterdam idea. Not only will it provide jobs for some local women but maybe the towns sex offenders will visit there and leave the underage girls alone.
And what is wrong with Amsterdam?? You ever been there,,, Grafton would make a GREAT Little Amsterdam,,, along the Blackstone river,, Damn near Nirvana on a beautiful day.
Yes I've been there and personally I thought the coffee shops were a blemish on a great city.
I didn't do their churches. A couple of museums; Anne Frank and Van Gogh at the Hermitage and then a lot of street walking. I was only there for a long weekend.
As for the churches, I've been thru probably enough in Europe. They're over the top, magnificent and dark at the same time.
don't bother with Aladdin. He crys about money, poor people, sick people. Now there is a way to get tax money and he's against it. He's a blemish on society.
Here is what SOME people are afraid will happen in Grafton,, turn it into a drug crazed violent people:
Willie Nelson - Live At Paradiso - Amsterdam (2007). HD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzefvCGGwKY
I mean, who want this kind of Riff Raff in our neighborhood?!?
His long hair SCARES me!!!
(NOT!)
Where in my words do you get the understanding that I'm crying about medical pot? Where in my words am I talking about tax revenues?
The reality is, if pot has a medical purpose, then it should be dispensed to those that it will help, by a trained pharmacist!
Tax gains don't motivate me to act inappropriately.