Our View
Regulating reefer
The most significant question on Maine's ballot has turned out to be Question 5, the easy approval of which will create a network of nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries. We're leery of the idea, especially the mechanics of its oversight, but the voters have spoken.
One thing must be certain: Another decade should not pass before the intent of this citizen initiative is realized. Medical marijuana was approved in Maine in 1999, but the Legislature dithered for a decade without addressing how patients could acquire it legally.
This year's vote made the choice for them.
There is valid concern about the regulation of these entities under the Department of Health and Human Services. Now that the plan is approved, the governor and lawmakers should not delay in studying the smartest, most secure method of overseeing these dispensaries and ensuring the medically approved product inside doesn't become trafficked for recreation outside.
It is new ground and a tall order. Only Rhode Island and New Mexico have approved nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries. How Maine decides to regulate them could become a national model to follow.
Or not.
Advertisement
Displaying comments, from newest to oldest
verified worldwiderick medical
worldwiderick
medical marijuana is a farce. Do I need to be sick, or pay off a doctor to get high!?
The truth is, the medical movement is just a cover to attain some sort of legality by praying on peoples empathy.
We should just legalize hempf. The product was used for thousands of years. Ya, you can smoke it to get high- so what! Should our government make bannana peelings illegal, or regulate nutmeg?
Hempf could be a cash crop again- not for dope heads, but for producing paper, high quality fibers for textiles, heating pellets... Perhaps people will smoke some buds. Wouldn't it be better to take the power of high profits away from criminals?
I remember when there was a pothead selling joints on every knox street corner. Funny, back then people didn't use coke or meth to the extent that we now see. As a teenager it was always very difficult to get beer (legal). Drugs were everywhere, and easilly accessable. Keeping it illegal only creates a market that criminals exploit. If pot were legal, there would be fewer hard drugs available and the criminals would be out of business.
verified i dont see this as new
i dont see this as new ground. what about meth clinics??? they think it is regulated... it isnt. it is sold right outside the damn place. i think there are much better things to worry about than pot.....meth is so much more addictive. i know people who have ruined their lives by 'doing pills' so they decided to get help. they went to the meth clinc. the result?? now they are ten times worse than before. they didnt get help. they just traded a variety of pills for the one someone handed them LEGALLY. and it is covered by insurance!! pot isnt. it isnt like 'one hit buddy n your hooked' meth? one pill cuz you were already hooked on another..... none of it makes sense. people ruin their lives on a daily basis and then want 'help'. using marijuana medically isnt abusing it. there is nothing that meth is used for medically other than to get someone off all the other pills. pot doesnt kill your liver and kidneys. meth does. yes, pot kills brain cells, but so doesnt sneezing.... that isnt illegal yet.
Should just decriminalize
Should just decriminalize it. It isn't as if it actually causes enough harm to warrant being illegal. Pursuit of happiness my ass.
Regulating Reefer.... So I
Regulating Reefer.... So I guess the SJ Staff is a fan of the "Reefer Madness" movie ???
...Don't smoke . ..†oo e
...Don't smoke . ..†oo e x p e n s i v e .. What ? US$7.00 a pack now ? Not an endorsement ----> http://www.gttobacco.com
The sad fact is, Maine
The sad fact is, Maine government has trouble watching what it has now. DHS has problems with the operation of it's programs now. So adding another new program to a state agency that cannot smoothly operate it's current programs was not a good choice!
Puff puff pass, brother.
Puff puff pass, brother. Don't bogart
"Reasoning with a liberal is like trying to pick up a turd by the clean end. " Pirate
The only differance Maine
The only differance Maine will be how to fill the pockets of its friends you cant bet your bippy that the first of these markets to open will be owned by either a former state worker or political member of the state.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Most Popular Today
- LePage's communications director stepping down
- Lawmakers endorse bipartisan deal on immediate DHHS shortfall
- All the Goodwill stuff you didn’t think you wanted, now by the pound in Gorham
- Prosecutors describe Missouri teen as "thrill killer"
- 15 Colby students cited in investigation for sexual misconduct
verified on "AG files 8-count indictment against Alfred lawmaker"
When will the AG's office
When will the AG's office file charges against the Speaker and try to recover some of the money he stole. Oh, right, he's a republican too, so the AG will wait until Nutting is out of office, which hopefully will be in December.
verified on "School choice, public funding for religious institutions headline LePage education plan"
Paying for religious
Paying for religious education should be allowed only if no public education is available. You don't have a public high school, people should be given a set voucher for any school they wish to send their children to. IF there are public schools available, tough, pay for it yourself.
As for school choice, if the state will pay for public transportation, then perhaps it could fly, otherwise you'd be pitting the haves and have nots, another republican example of class warfare.
verified on "Lisbon details plan to take over Androscoggin County dispatching"
"Their (pricing) scale is
"Their (pricing) scale is just not affordable for us," Hawley said" That's because L-A would no longer subsidize Mechanic Falls, or any other town's services, everyone would have to pay for what they use. Isn't that really the fairest way to go, combine everyone into one dispatch and everyone pay for what they use?
In order to make comments, you must verify your account.
In order to comment on SunJournal.com, you must use your real name and include the town in which you live in your profile. A member of our staff will call you to verify this information. To join in, fill out your user profile completely and check the box "please verify my status." We'll get back to you within one business day to verify your account.
Login or create an account here.
Our policy prohibits comments that are:
- Defamatory, abusive, obscene, racist, or otherwise hateful
- Excessively foul and/or vulgar
- Inappropriately sexual
- Baseless personal attacks or otherwise threatening
- Contain illegal material, or material that infringes on the rights of others
- Commercial postings attempting to sell a product/item
If you violate this policy, your comment will be removed and your account may be banned.