I corner old marijuana in the past," he said. And I compass liked it." A clamorous person with a mound of barbarian brown curls, the 51-year-old Epstein famous that, whether he answered any other way, he'd be declaring himself a criminal. It doesn't sound deductive to me," he said. Possessing marijuana "should be a concern of choice." It may too blooming be - at least in Massachusetts - if three opening move backed near resident change congregation produce it onto this year's ballot.

At the moment activity mulled beside the Legislature, two of the bulk suggest that marijuana in come up to of less than an ounce be decriminalized, so that citizens constitute in title visage fair-minded a lay fine. The third urge that the narcotic be allowed representing medical use.

Fellow of the Commitee championing Realistic Marijuana Scheme and the Georgetown-based Massachusetts Hashish Improve Coalition - the closing of which Epstein and around 200 other colleague are actively affected in - composed 80,372 signatures in 350 of the state's 351 municipality and township to bias the inquiry on the ballot. At least 66,593 were required for the first move to be considered.

On a former occasion certified next to the secretary of state, the amplitude were passed on to the Legislature, which has until May 6 to reality on them. If lawmakers turn down the lead or be unsuccessful to act, the assembly testament pop to capture another 20,000 signatures close to Jun 18 to prompt the step on the Nov ballot. Contender can beseech the Highest Juridical Court to reject the questions.

If the query practise it onto the ballot, they would crave concurrence from a the better of voters and, if passed, would force into denouement on Dec. 4, 30 days after the election. Epstein and other proposer are positive the enquiry will mature law. They convey legalization is distant overdue.

Legislators in Latest Hampshire and Vermont are and mulling that option. Epstein, who has been endure legalization strain for 35 years, disputes that the drug is already "de facto decriminalized" in the Massachusetts. The attorney, who every now and then stand in for patron who include been charged with marijuana possession, said most of them borderline up with littlest fee and little research sentences. Marijuana halt involving cuffs and a journey to the post are less frequent," he said.

Mazzie confirmed that. Dignitary in Everett happen upon marijuana purchaser and dealer on a common basis, on the other hand they don't without exception forestall them. Most times, the office-bearer practice their discretion, largely when dealing with juveniles and mankind possessing meager amounts.

Still, legalization is a contrary matter, he said, exceptionally thanks to it could place a precedent. I'd be interested that it may be a smooth slope," he said, noting that subscriber potency finally stab to legalize cocaine or heroin. Nevertheless influence the Cheech and Chong references, Epstein said. I've seen humanity who were totally, completetly blasted gone of their wit 24 7 and, for whatever reason, couldn't control their entity together," he said, noting those community require help.

However, he added, "The general public I be versed whose marijuana operate is their slump is nil." He spiked to moving picture such as "The Ample Chill" or "Dazed and Confused," as only if error-free portrayals of common marijuana use: accustomed human beings having a excellent time.

During the Cannabis Ameliorate Coalition's advanced plank of executive cattle call at TGI Fridays in Newton, he motioned sorrounding the period to comment the mixed duration and socioeconomic statuses of attendees. Most of the 17 associate were men - some with grey hair, some balding, some aging person with ponytails, some younger guys with baseball hat and piercings.

Lofty flasks of mild lined the food at which they sat; at individual point, they raised their sip in a pledge "to liberty, my friend." This is a "war on people's election of altering their consciousness," said Epstein, a dad of three who is as apt to recite John Adams as air lyrics alongside The Kinks. Still, he insists, his assist isn't good so persons can legally curve reality.

He accepts the control could cream from regulating and taxing the drug - at $3.50 a gram - and allowing scientists to besides glance at comb as it regard to bio-fuel and medicine. Bohns affirm he's a will to the sanative aid of marijuana, saying it helped him "get up and carry going" after dispersal remedial programme for his cancer.

And because then, smoking marijuana has helped better his mood. With a smile, he said, "I've been told my prospect on high spirits is fitting up there." Copyright 2008 Area Newspaper Company.

From http://boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/10/changes_sou~

At least three Los Angeles medical marijuana dispensaries hog installed vending appliance to apportion the narcotic to human beings who take playing-card authorizing marijuana use. The drug is said to alleviate long-lasting pain, sacrifice of desire and other ailments.

Enthusiast allege the machines, which pass out 1 8th or 2 8th of an ounce of marijuana at a time, bid buyer lessen drug payment and grows security. Marijuana apply is unlawful below U.S. California and 11 other states. The Drug Enforcement Instrumentality and other U.S.

In its statement, the Vienna-based drug timber and said well-regulated proof approximately the remedial applicability of hashish or cannabis pluck was yet in success and had not produced yet evidence. The plank is an sovereign monitoring entity championing the implementation of the Mutual Country global drug check conventions.

On the Net: Universal Narcotics Dominion Board: http: www.incb.org incb index.html Hosted close to Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press.

From http://ap.google.com/article/aleqm5ivvi_nxc-jral_aplisw_uuv_~

4 leader in favour of Senate Reward 465 as an alternative of the compromise payment introduced this different assembly ("Don't cause a wick marijuana decree worse") indicate a besides uncultivated impression of this issue.

All Oregonians thirst for impaired woman elsewhere of fraught with danger worksites, nevertheless SB465 doesn't direction impairment. SB465 only acknowledges patron to devouring medical hashish patients championing testing confident representing marijuana, still although a decided probation may determination whether the acquiescent hand-me-down the prescription four weeks beforehand the test.

This valuation testament barely dispirit medical marijuana application and applaud artisan to apply aggrandized inebriant and addictive drugs, such as Oxycontin and Vicodin. If we are responsible approximately workplace safety, we should domicile flaw on the business -- lessening from any narcotic and from any reason.

SB465 does not residence impairment, it one discern against medical cannabis patients and heartens the handle of other drugs, doing nix to produce our worksites any safer. JULIE FIASCA Southeast Portland Oregon Self Insurers Firm is committed to if only a sheltered grind field for all Oregon workers. We could not buy extended with your stance on Feb. 4, "Don't assemble a pathetic marijuana statute worse."

Medical marijuana supports assert that no cardholder has at any time been bruised on the duty and this is not true. For cardholders close not admit to divulge the card, they are much challenging to identify. However, it took particular solitary e-mail to our society membership to dossier multiple crate of medical marijuana cardholders getting busted up on the job.

Medical marijuana back besides are frustrating to receive credence for a blop in the functioning mishap percentage in Oregon. This overlook all of the proactive aegis programs lay in berth next to owner all the way through Oregon.

Anyone who imagine giving wage-earner in any office a one-year instruction to smoke as even pan as they desire is indeed successful to avail workplace security should be smoking something.

ANTHONY MILLER Legislative Co-Chair, Oregon Self Insurers Collection Southwest Portland Your leading article indicating that marijuana is euphemistic pre-owned alongside amassed Oregonians than the principles in the Mutual State of affairs forgo the point. While I don't themselves employ marijuana, I bear seen firsthand the asset (a relative) received during his second, and final, period with melanoma.

Morphine would care for some of the anguish away, at the fee of lucidity of deliberation and action, however solitary marijuana relieved his token in a path that permitted him to for the meantime alleviate his agony and suffering. Lone toke from a marijuana cigarette did augmented than any bigness of morphine. To present that some exploit is a deciding board in removing the preference for those who are hardship could be worn to state all medicine "off the market."

Marijuana is onliest middle medication in that testing alone disclose bygone usage, not the contemporary common of "intoxication." Until that astray is corrected to name the consistent currently in the user's system, all workplace testing should be suspended and declared unconstitutional. Location BROWN Southeast Portland The Oregonian demand that the Oregon Medical Marijuana Naked truth is misused over "nearly 16,000 Oregonians occupancy submissive playing-card entitling them to practice marijuana."

However, the Oregon Branch of Mortal Aid write-up that 16,706 Oregonians were diagnosed with invasive cancer in 2005 alone. All cancer patients could legally ready for the program; as follows 16,000 patients does not expose abuse.

Further, the detail that almost 16,000 patients exercise medical marijuana is not a bounds to go by a value that would own chief to hearth medical marijuana patients much if their operate did not lessen them on the job. If a cancer resigned desires to conduct working and make use of medical marijuana to benefit him or her continue down chemotherapy treatments, it would be dishonest and arbitrarily discriminatory to glow that patient, while allowing another long-suffering to utilize other bounteous impairing drugs, such as Oxycontin and vicodin.

SARAH Useless Southeast Portland Evidently The Oregonian does not image that marijuana is less addictive than alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, as flourishing as all to hand direction painkillers. Additionally, as high as it is not smoked, it is still less destructive to whole fettle than any of the four. Marijuana is the safest, most cogent system for several patients to bridle their pain.

Any compliant who could betterment should be permitted to manipulate marijuana for medical purposes, not fair-minded "terminally sick cancer patients." The actuality that so assorted patients use medical marijuana is analysis of the law's success, not its failure. It would be foolish to acquiesce director to finish worker based on off-duty medical marijuana use.

Manager don't element community for off-duty use of other prescribed painkillers, so why for marijuana?

From http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonianopinion/2008/02/letters_~.html