QUESTION 3: What a "yes" vote will do

QUESTION 3: MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA

A YES VOTE would enact the proposed law eliminating state criminal and civil penalties related to the medical use of marijuana, allowing patients meeting certain conditions to obtain marijuana produced and distributed by new state-regulated centers or, in specific hardship cases, to grow marijuana for their own use.

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF QUESTION 3:

A YES vote will ease the suffering of thousands of people with cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, and other debilitating conditions. Scientific research has proven that marijuana can be useful for many clinical applications, including pain relief, nausea, and seizures.

Provisions of the proposed law requiring strict regulation by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, written physician approval, a limited number of non-profit treatment centers, and criminal penalties for fraud will help ensure only appropriate medical use of marijuana.

This proposal has been endorsed by many patients, their families, medical professionals, and law enforcement officials who believe that a smart, science-based approach can help suffering patients without encouraging inappropriate drug use. In fact, allowing the medical use of marijuana will lessen the need for dangerous narcotics like morphine and OxyContin.

On behalf of thousands of patients, we ask for your support.

-Linda Brantley, President

New England Coalition for Cancer Survivorship