There are three ballot questions for Massachusetts voter to decide. We urge all voters to read the questions ahead of time, either on-line on the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s office or in the pamphlets that went out to every voter from the Secretary of State.
In addition, there are opinions offered on each question by the Attorney General’s office as well as pro and con opinions from those who support the questions and those who oppose them.
All of the ballot questions (auto repair information availability from the manufacturers; the right to request end-of-life medication from a doctor; and medical marijuana as prescribed by a doctor) are fairly long and complex. However, the latter two are modeled after similar statutes in other states and have incorporated safeguards based upon the experiences in those states. All three of those questions, and the new laws that would become effective if passed, will affect the quality of life for just about everyone. Most of us own a car at some point in our lives; many of us get diseases for which marijuana is an excellent, non addictive pain reliever; and all of us will die. There are arguments to be made on both sides of these questions, but ultimately, the only opinion that counts is the one that comes when the votes are counted which is why all of us must express vote on Tuesday.
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"many of us get diseases for which marijuana is an excellent, non addictive pain reliever"
This is true, but whether or not to allow doctors to prescribe it is a bigger issue than compassion vs. prohibition.
Let's face it -- "medical marijuana" laws are pretty much a joke in a lot of states. Sure, the drug becomes available (well, removes the criminal penalties and adds some degree of oversight, as well as availability from more trustworthy sources than the street) to patients who may benefit from it, but there's also a lot of people who are just going to waste everyone's time and money with all sorts of "maladies" cooked up just to get a card/prescription.
The most interesting take I have read on this thus far came from a doctor (who is pro-legalization, by the way) who points out that a poorly structured or enforced medical marijuana law could very well increase the load on an already over-taxed medical system with the fakers, tying up more resources (including taxpayer money, in some cases), and resulting in inaccurate patient histories, etc.
(I really wish that I could find it, as I am representing it poorly, and it was quite thought-provoking.)
Anyhow, the issue isn't that black and white.
And disclaimer - I am pro-"legalize everything under the sun".