• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • BOSTON BETTER BEER BUREAU
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT
    • MASTHEAD
    • ADVERTISE
    • Close
  • BECOME A MEMBER

Dig Bos

The Dig - Greater Boston's Alternative News Source

TALKING JOINTS MEMO: RECAP OF A CRITICAL DAY IN MASS CANNABIS HISTORY

Written by DIG STAFF Posted July 18, 2017 Filed Under: COLUMNS, News, NEWS+OPINIONS

 

A legislative compromise on cannabis plus a legal win for patients

 

The following is from our cannabis newsletter, Talking Joints Memo. You can subscribe for free at talkingjointsmemo.com

 

Before we get to the exciting (or at least somewhat comforting) news about progress on the Beacon Hill cannabis lawmaking front, it would be a shame to let those legislative headlines overshadow the important recent happening in Massachusetts courts that could affect anyone with a job who gets high.

 

In order to avoid confusion about said legal decision when an explanation can be easily lifted from the reliable Adam Gaffin, who covers the courts regularly, here’s a snippet from his writeup on Universal Hub:

 

The Supreme Judicial Court ruled that voter approval of medicinal marijuana means employers can no longer simply fire workers who test positive for THC on a drug test if they can prove they were using the drug with a doctor’s prescription.

 

The ruling comes in the case of a woman who was consuming marijuana two to three times a week to help ease the pain of Crohn’s Disease and who tested positive for marijuana administered by her new employer, for which she handed out samples in supermarkets – and which she had informed about her usage.

 

Trotting out the victory for all to see, an attorney for the winning party from the Boston law offices of Vicente Sederberg released the following statement:

 

The Supreme Judicial Court today has given medical marijuana patients the same protections enjoyed by millions of other workers who use various medicines to enhance their physical well-being … With medical marijuana legal in most states, this ruling provides a critical step forward in defining employer actions regarding workers whose off-site legal use presents no workplace impairment issues.

 

As for that compromise bill in the State House …

 

Believe us when we say there will be many gripes about the rewrite of the recreational cannabis law, regardless of how much the specifics seem like wins considering the threats recently posed by prohibitionist lawmakers. The language being used by advocates is clearly cautious at the moment—not exactly blasting representatives, but not applauding them either. Jim Borghesani, the communications director for the Yes on 4 campaign, wrote in a public comment:

 

While we have yet to see the final bill, we are relieved that a compromise has been reached and the regulatory structure can soon start moving forward.  The compromise alters the approach on taxes and local control contained in Question 4, but it falls far short of the onerous House language, which would have added untold difficulties to establishing an effective regulatory system.  We urge the governor to sign the bill when it reaches his desk, and we urge him, the House and the Senate to ensure adequate funding to move the regulatory system forward.

 

Knowing what we know, at this time it feels most appropriate to deflect all accountability and refrain from editorializing until the dust settles. Still there’s plenty of important reading to do, and thankfully state Sen. William Brownsberger of Belmont posted all the information you need at williambrownsberger.com, including:

 

1 –  The actual “Act to ensure safe access to medical and adult-use of marijuana in the Commonwealth” as it emerged from the Marijuana Conference Committee on Monday. (You can also read the official document here.)

 

2 – As well as Brownsberger’s excellent point-by-point breakdown, including explainers on everything from (the lack of) changes to possession and home cultivation rules to tweaks made to both local rules and regulatory structure.

 

We recommend reading up closely and following this one through—with us along to help you of course—but here are some summaries from Brownsberger that may be of immediate interest. Under the current rewrite, which still needs approval from Gov. Charlie Baker, there will be:

 

  • No reduction in the freedom to possess marijuana—in fact, it increases the amounts permitted without criminal sanction.

 

  • No reduction in the freedom to grow marijuana within a home—in fact in it eliminates criminal liability for home grow by persons under 21.

 

  • No change to the basic principle that the voters of each community, as opposed to the elected officials of each community, get to decide whether marijuana establishments will be able to operate in the community.

 

Finally, we’re going to do what we did last time there was major breaking marijuana news on Beacon Hill, and add a few unusual headline categories. Immediately after this editor’s note are HELPFUL HEADY LINES, which are links to articles that are still very relevant. Those are followed by a MASS HEADLINE DUMPSTER, which is full of all the articles you may want to check out but which are pretty much irrelevant at this point, and then back to the partitions as usual—from hyper-local headlines (ROAD RUNNER) to New England and national news.

 

Stay Tuned,

 

Chris Faraone, Editor-in-Chief

 

HELPFUL HEADY LINES

Firing somebody with a medical-marijuana prescription is illegal discrimination, court rules (Universal Hub)

 

Mass. lawmakers unveil proposed overhaul of marijuana law (Boston Globe)

 

Read the Massachusetts marijuana bill (MassLive)

 

Lawmakers agree to rewrite of voter-approved pot law, propose taxes up to 20 percent (MassLive)

 

The Compromise Marijuana Bill Is Finally Done (Boston Magazine)

 

Why City Councilor Ayanna Pressley is Pushing for Equity in Marijuana Licensing (WGBH)

 

Lawmakers Find Common Ground On Marijuana Tax (CBS Boston / WBZ)

 

MASS HEADLINE DUMPSTER

Mass. Towns Balking at Pot Shops as Beacon Hill Weighs Tighter Local Approvals (Boston Globe)

 

Pro-Marijuana Advocates Fine With it if Mass Lawmakers Can’t Come Up With Pot Law Rewrite (Masslive.com)

 

Couple weds in marijuana facility to back new laws (Boston Globe)

 

Lawmakers Negotiating on Mass Marijuana Law Get Back to Work (TheCannabist.co)

 

Recreational Cannabis Bill Debate Picks Up In Mass (Investingnews.com)

 

Marijuana Bill Still Undecided by Lawmakers (WWLP)

 

Uncertainty, Debate Continue as Marijuana Law Talks Drag On (BizJournal.com)

 

Lawmakers Resume Talks on Compromise Marijuana Bill (NBC Boston)

 

Boston: Lawmakers to Restart Talks on Compromise Marijuana Bill (95.9 WATD)

 

Still No Deal on Pot Bill; Baker Suggests Time Running Short (US News)

 

Recreational Marijuana Committee at a Standstill on Measure (Salem News)

 

On Marijuana Law, the Legislature is Fixing Something That Isn’t Broken (Boston Globe)

 

Editorial: Pot Parlor Games (Boston Herald)

 

Talks to Resume as Lawmakers Seek Compromise on Marijuana Bill (NBC Boston)

 

Advocates see a chance to raise Mass. alcohol tax (The Boston Globe)

 

Mass. budget, marijuana bills appear intertwined in larger bargaining (The Recorder)

 

Mass. budget, marijuana bills entwined in larger bargaining (SouthCoastToday.com)

 

Marijuana Advocates Says $2M From State Won’t Be Enough (BizJournals.com)

 

Lawmakers Resume Talks on Compromise Marijuana Bill (USNews.com)

 

Talks to resume as lawmakers seek compromise on pot bill (Boston Herald)

 

Talks To Resume As Lawmakers Seek Pot Bill Compromise (CBS Boston / WBZ)

 

Massachusetts Lawmakers Want to Delay Recreational Cannabis Regulations Even Further (MERRY JANE)

 

Beacon Hill Gridlock On Budget, Marijuana Legalization (WBUR)

 

Massachusetts Speaker: Suspend Cannabis Negotiations Until Budget Plan Is Approved (Leafly)

 

House speaker says to pause weed bill to focus on overdue state budget (Metro US)

 

Pot talks on hold as Legislature eyes budget deal (Boston Herald)

 

Talks to Resume as Lawmakers Seek Compromise on Pot Bill (U.S. News & World Report)

 

Legislature signals budget deal, but stays mum on the details (Boston Globe)

 

Massachusetts top Dems argue over what to fix first: state budget or marijuana bill (The Cannabist)

 

Long weekend failed to produce budget, marijuana deals (Gloucester Daily Times)

 

Long weekend failed to produce budget, marijuana deals (wwlp.com)

 

Massachusetts lawmakers say they’ve reached budget agreement, plan to vote on massive state … (MassLive.com)

 

Massachusetts Lawmakers Continue Efforts to Strike Compromise on Marijuana (NECN)

 

Lawmakers Approve Compromise $40.2 Billion State Budget (U.S. News & World Report)

 

Here are 9 takeaways from the new $40.2 billion Massachusetts budget deal sent to Gov. Charlie … (MassLive.com)

 

Gov. Charlie Baker on Massachusetts budget: ‘They need to get something to our desk’ (MassLive.com)

 

Blowing past deadlines, Massachusetts lawmakers still at odds over state budget, marijuana law … (MassLive.com)

 

Massachusetts top Dems argue over what to fix first: state budget or marijuana bill (The Cannabist)

 

DeLeo suspends pot negotiations until budget plan is approved (Boston Globe)

 

Beacon Hill Marijuana Talks Drag On (SalemNews.com)

 

Dempsey Pitches Higher Pot Tax (Commonwealth Magazine)

 

Mass Lawmakers Prepare to Vote on New State Budget (Normangeestar.net)

 

Communities, Activists and Businesses in Holding Partner While Mass Legislatures Debate Pot (MetrowestDaily.com)

 

ROAD RUNNER (MASS HYPER-LOCAL)

BOSTON

  • Boston Mayor Marty Walsh Opens Up on Violence, Marijuana and Elections (NECN)

 

  • JPNC Delays Vote On Medical Marijuana Dispensary (Jamaica Plain Gazette)

 

BOURNE

  • Attorney General Approves Marijuana Moratorium Bylaw (CapeNews.com)

 

BRIDGEWATER

  • Medical marijuana dispensary opens its doors (Wicked Local Bridgewater)

 

GEORGETOWN

  • Another Medical Marijuana Company Wants to Open (Wicked Local)

 

GREENFIELD

  • Shrugs, Uncertainty as Marijuana Law Talks Drag On (Recorder.com)

 

IPSWICH

  • Police Use Restraint in High-Speed Chase (Wicked Local)

 

LAWRENCE

  • Proposal to Ban Pot Sales Draws Overflow Crowd to Council Hearing (Eagle Tribune)

 

METHUEN

  • Methuen Eyes Recreational Marijuana Moratorium (Eagle Tribune)

 

NATICK

  • 4 Months After a Devastating Fire, Wicked Chronic Finds New Homan in Natick (Framinghamsource.com)

 

  • Northeastern Institute of Cannabis to Move (Metrowestdaily.com)

 

SUDBURY

  • Update on New Fire Station, Talk on the Marijuana Law: On The Board (Patch)

 

NEIGHBORLY NUGGETS (NEW ENGLAND)

CONNECTICUT

  • Cannabis Cottage Industry in Connecticut (WTNH)

 

MAINE

  • Unlike Mass., Maine Lawmakers Debate Their New Pot Law in Public (Boston Globe)

 

  • Pot Tax Debated in Maine (Union Leader)

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE

  • Cannabis Expo Comes to New England With Plans to Link Investors, Entrepreneurs, Job Seeker (www.NH1.com)

 

VERMONT

  • Medical Marijuana Patient Contests Driving Ban (Burlington Free Press)

 

  • Dollars tell only part of story of pot legalization advocacy (Vtdigger.org)

 

THE LAB (NEW SECTION WITH MEDICAL LINKS)

Alcohol, Not Weed, Manipulates Brain Structure (High Times)

 

93% of Patients Prefer Cannabis Over Opioids for Managing Pain, According to New Study (ScienceAlert.com)

 

Lawsuit Filed Over Medical Marijuana Smoking Ban (www.sun-sentinel.com)

 

University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Takes on Training for Medical Marijuana (Baltimore Sun)

 

Will You Still Need a Medical Card When Recreational Cannabis is Legal? (Green Rush Daily)

 

Big Green: Marijuana Merger of Harvest, Cultivation Company May Bear Fruit for Patients (Phoenix New Times)

 

Youth Marijuana Use Fell By 17 Percent Over Past Decade, Study Finds (Daily Caller)

 

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Can Reduce Property Crime, Study Finds (Bizjournals.com)

 

Microdosing Cannabis for Sex: How to Use Minimal THC for Maximal Pleasure (Leafly.com)

 

Man Wins Historic Medical Marijuana Trial (NBC Miami)

 

Marijuana Treats Migraine Pain Better Than Prescription Medication, Study Finds (Forbes)

 

Cannabis Can Relieve Symptoms of Lyme Disease (TheFreshToast.com)

 

 

CANNABIZ CORNER / PRESS RELEASES

Marijuana Billboard in South Boston Called ‘Insensitive’ (Boston Globe)

 

Denver Businesses Will Be First in the Nation to Allow Cannabis Use (www.marijuana.com)

 

Weedmaps Billboard Removed in South Boston (Ganjaprenuer.com)

 

Bank Shuts Account For Pot Advocacy Group (USA Today)

 

Viewpoint: Marijuana patents could plant the seeds of future lawsuits (Boston Business Journal)

 

The Fresh Toast Marijuana Legislative Roundup: July 10 (Thefreshtoast.com)

 

Boston Plays Host to ‘Cannacon,’ a marijuana business convention (CBS Boston)

 

Legal Marijuana is a Job Creation Engine (Drug War Chronicle)

 

How BCC is Rolling Up the US Cannabis Industry (New Cannabis Ventures (blog))

 

Want to 3D print your own marijuana edibles? Check out Potent Rope (Digital Trends)

 

Ex-Insys Employee in U.S. Kickback Case Loses Fight to Smoke Pot (USNews.com)

 

This is the Next High Growth Vertical of the Cannabis Industry (Minyanville)

 

MariMed Raises $5.2 Million for Cannabis Facility Development; Spurs Revenue Growth (NASDAQ)

 

MassRoots to Acquire Cannabis Compliance Firm Odava (Ganjapreneur.com)

 

Nonwhite Business Owners in D.C. Just Got Extra Incentive to Open a Medicinal Marijuana Dispensary (Atlanta Black Star)

 

Davis Malm Launches Cannabis Law Practice (ITbusiness.com)

 

NEVADA GOLD RUSH

 

  • Nevada Starts Selling Recreational Marijuana (Newswire)

 

  • People Line Up to Buy Recreational Marijuana in Nevada (Slate Magazine (blog))

 

  • United states : Nevada opens in cannabis-recreational (The Siver Times)

 

  • Marijuana sales in Nevada exceed stores’ expectations (Boston Globe)

 

  • Nevada Recreational Marijuana Sales Begin (Marijuana Resources)

 

  • Cannabis in America July 2017: Sin City Welcomes Legal Weed (Law Street Media)

 

  • Nevada Rec. Sales Reach $3 Million in Four Days (Ganjapreneur.com)

 

  • Nevada Rec Sales Launch Makes a Big Splash (Cannabisindustryjournal.com)

 

  • Nevada Issues First Marijuana Delivery Licenses (DothanFirst.com)

 

  • Nevada Has a Weed State of Emergency (VICE)

 

  • Nevada Weighs Emergency Regulations to Reverse Imminent Marijuana Shortage (Washington Times)

 

  • Nevada’s Half-Hearted Marijuana Legalization Guarantees a Healthy Black Market (Reason.com)

 

  • Attorney General Sessions’ Las Vegas Speech Ignores Nevada Pot-Sales ‘Emergency’ (Phoenix New Times)

 

  • Nevada Adopts Emergency Rules to Combat Pot Bottleneck (Boston Herald)

 

  • Nevada Rushes to Address Shortage of Newly Legalized Marijuana (NYtimes.com)

 

  • Nevada Issues First Marijuana Delivery License (Gant News)

 

  • Nevada’s First Recreational Marijuana Sales Generate $500000 In Tax Revenue (CBS Miami)

 

NATIONAL NUGGETS

Imagine If The Media Covered Alcohol Like Other Drugs (Vox)

 

Outdated, Sagging Colorado Schools get $300 Million Boost From Pot Sales, Other Taxes (Denver Post)

 

Dispatch #1: The Colorado Marijuana Connection (Berkshire Eagle)

 

Dispatch #2: A Blindingly Bright Room of Denver Green (Berkshire Eagle)

 

One Easy Fix for America’s Infrastructure Crisis: Weed (VICE)

 

Lawmakers Seek Property Tax on Pot That Raises Revenue But Keeps Buyers Off Black Market (Pressherald.com)

 

As States Keep Saying Yes to marijuana, Attorney General Says No (Boston Globe)

 

Authorities: Pot Dealer Says He Killed 4 Men (Boston Herald)
Man Who Tried to Sell Grass Clippings as Marijuana Arrested, Police Say (FOX 25)

DIG STAFF
+ posts

Dig Staff means this article was a collaborative effort. Teamwork, as we like to call it.

  • DIG STAFF
    https://digboston.com/author/dig-staff/
    In Between Days Festival Announces 2023 Lineup
  • DIG STAFF
    https://digboston.com/author/dig-staff/
    Dig This: Boston Underground Film Festival @ The Brattle
  • DIG STAFF
    https://digboston.com/author/dig-staff/
    Dig This: Silent Disco @ Night Shift’s Everett Taproom
  • DIG STAFF
    https://digboston.com/author/dig-staff/
    Dig This: Six Days Of St. Paddy @ Thirsty Scholar

Filed Under: COLUMNS, News, NEWS+OPINIONS Tagged With: Beacon Hill, cannabis, Commonwealth, Joint Committee on Marijuana Policy, legalization, Marijuana, Massachusetts, prohibitionists, question 4, State House

WHAT’S NEW

The Legendary Past And Uncertain Future Of The Harvard Square Theatre

The Legendary Past And Uncertain Future Of The Harvard Square Theatre

State Wire: Funds Aim To Support Municipalities With Expanded Mail Voting

State Wire: Funds Aim To Support Municipalities With Expanded Mail Voting

Parks & Checks: Wasteful, Opaque Bookkeeping At Two City Of Boston Nonprofit Arms

Parks & Checks: Wasteful, Opaque Bookkeeping At Two City Of Boston Nonprofit Arms

Surf’s Upcycled: Meet The Bay State Surfers Conserving The Oceans Where They Ride

Surf’s Upcycled: Meet The Bay State Surfers Conserving The Oceans Where They Ride

State Wire: Public Supports Changes To High-Stakes Testing For Mass Students

State Wire: Public Supports Changes To High-Stakes Testing For Mass Students

State Wire: White Supremacist Gatherings, Incidents Hit All-Time High In New England

State Wire: White Supremacist Gatherings, Incidents Hit All-Time High In New England

Primary Sidebar

LOCAL EVENTS

AAN Wire


Most Popular

  • Does Massachusetts Underestimate Its Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
  • The Most Expensive Massachusetts City For Car Insurance (No, It’s Not Boston)
  • If You Find A Mini Felted Animal Around Boston, This Is Where It Came From
  • FOTOBOM: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND @ TD GARDEN
  • Daring Greatly: TikTok Star Alden McWayne (aka Gucci Pineapple) On Scheming And Dreaming

Footer

Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Advertise

Customer Service

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an email blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: sales@digboston.com To reach editorial (and for inquiries about internship opportunities): editorial@digboston.com