• 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
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • Close
  • BECOME A MEMBER

Dig Bos

The Dig - Boston's Only Newspaper

THE AG CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS ON WEED

Written by MIKE CANN Posted April 29, 2015 Filed Under: Blunt Truth, COLUMNS

Copy of NEW WEB HEAD TEMPLATE (1)

 

During an appearance on the WGBH last week, recently elected Mass Attorney General Maura Healey noted that while she supports existing decriminalization and medical marijuana laws, she draws the line at legalization. Pressed by “Boston Public Radio” hosts to cut the bullshit, she resorted to some nonsense about how legal marijuana could increase black market violence. Ignoring facts, the AG went on to say that she’s concerned about “the kids.” In any case, Healey wasn’t budging.

 

“I still don’t think that justifies it or makes it right,” the attorney general said. “I mean, there are a lot of things we could legalize. We could legalize cocaine or heroin. We could legalize dissemination of child pornography. It doesn’t make it right.”

 

As if comparing marijuana to heroin wasn’t bad enough, she threw the kiddie porn gauntlet. Does Healey actually believe that pedophiles are comparable to adults who consume legal pot?

 

Though she lies in manners similar to any number of prohibitionists, Healey’s reluctance to acknowledge reality is especially reminiscent of outgoing DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart, who once infamously refused to answer Congressman Jared Polis on whether marijuana is less harmful than heroin. Upon hearing that she was stepping down, Polis told the media he was “thrilled,” and said, “We need a more sensible approach to our federal drug policies, and it was clear that Ms. Leonhart was too beholden to antiquated and outdated laws and unwilling to fix things that were broken or look at basic science. I hope that our next D.E.A. chief will be better equipped to recognize simple truths such as, for example, that marijuana causes less harm to the body and mind than heroin.”

 

Healey also kind of reminds us of John Maddox, the MD who recently wrote in a letter to the Lawrence Eagle Tribune that, “Marijuana intended for medicinal use can end up in the hands of children.” Maddox collects a check working for Haverhill Public Schools as a doctor, which is only humorous in his not realizing the greatest risk for teens related to cannabis is prohibition, which breeds young dealers. In fact legal markets—even medical marijuana markets—make it significantly less profitable for a 17-year-old to set up shop selling pot.

 

Lastly, just a few weeks ago in Florida, a 15-year-old was indicted for the shooting deaths of his sibling and a suspected pot dealer. According to the Miami Herald, “Miami police allege the brother set up a deal to buy two pounds of marijuana from a trio of drug dealers, but secretly planned a gunpoint ripoff.” If weed had been legal, that wouldn’t have happened. Plain and simple. How many killings have we seen over teenagers selling alcohol?

 

It’s harsh to say that Healey, or even goons like Leonhart and Maddox, don’t really care about children. But with their baseless rhetoric around legalization, it sure as hell seems that way.

MIKE CANN
Related posts
  • MIKE CANN
    https://digboston.com/author/mike-cann/
    YES, WE CANN: HOW BAKER CAN REDUCE OPIATE ABUSE IN THREE EASY STEPS
  • MIKE CANN
    https://digboston.com/author/mike-cann/
    QUACKS AGAINST MARIJUANA: THE MASS MEDICAL SOCIETY STRIKES AGAIN
  • MIKE CANN
    https://digboston.com/author/mike-cann/
    MARIJUANA IGNORANCE, FROM THE GOP DEBATE STAGE TO BEACON HILL
  • MIKE CANN
    https://digboston.com/author/mike-cann/
    MARIJUNDERDOGS: MASSCANN/NORML ENDORSES BAY STATE REPEAL LEGALIZATION INITIATIVE

Filed Under: Blunt Truth, COLUMNS Tagged With: Boston Public Radio, Dispensaries, heroin comparison, Jared Polis, John Maddox, legalization, Marijuana, Massachusetts, Michele Leonhart, Mike Cann, WGBH

WHAT’S NEW

"Spotted Lanternfly, back_2017-06-16-16.50" by Sam Droege is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0

Invasive Spotted Lanternfly Alert!

Morale Violation: Whistle-Blowers Report Culture Of “Retaliation,” “Nepotism” At Parole Agency

Morale Violation: Whistle-Blowers Report Culture Of “Retaliation,” “Nepotism” At Parole Agency

Inbox: "Black Youth File Racial Profiling Complaint Against Medford Police"

Inbox: “Black Youth File Racial Profiling Complaint Against Medford Police”

Mass One Step Closer To New-Prison Moratorium, But Not There Yet

Mass One Step Closer To New-Prison Moratorium, But Not There Yet

Congrats To Worcester On Coming In At #69 On Best Places To Live List

Congrats To Worcester On Coming In At #69 On Best Places To Live List

Mass Supreme Court Sides With Asshole Sheriff In Prison Phone Fee Decision

Mass Supreme Court Sides With Asshole Sheriff In Prison Phone Fee Decision

Primary Sidebar

FEATURED EVENT

Most Popular

  • Morale Violation: Whistle-Blowers Report Culture Of “Retaliation,” “Nepotism” At Parole Agency
  • We Turned the North End Restaurant Lawsuit Against Mayor Wu Into a Musical
  • Do You Want To Work For the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission?
  • Inbox: Red Bull Cliff Diving Returns To Boston Waterfront
  • How Long Can Major Cannabis Cultivators Sustain Massive Indoor Grows In Mass?

CURRENT STREET EDITION

DIG 24.08 – 04/21/22

Footer

Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Advertise

Privacy Policy

Customer Service

Distribution

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 e-mail 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: [email protected] To reach Editorial: [email protected] For internship opportunities: [email protected]