HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB) — Starting January 1, 2013, medical marijuana is legal in Massachusetts.
In November, 63 percent of voters decided there should be no punishment when people use the drug for medicinal purposes.
Today, ABC40 asked Holyoke police how this new law will change their job — will they find a lot more people using the drug?
It turns out, a lot of people already are.
“You run across a lot of people with a few baggies, or less than an ounce, and it’s not an arrestable offense anymore, so the arrests for that have gone down,” says Sgt. Kevin Thomas of the Holyoke Police Dept.
Back in 2008, voters decriminalized possession for less than an ounce of marijuana. If officers find a small amount on you, all they can do is confiscate the drug and issue a $100 citation.
Carrying more than one ounce means you’ll still face criminal charges, unless you’ve got a medical marijuana card. Card-carrying patients can carry up to a 60-day supply.
“You would have to be a cardholder, or the caregiver of someone who is designated through the Department of Public Health,” says Thomas.
But since state officials are still working on the logistics of the program, police don’t expect to find many people carrying cards in the coming months.
“To my knowledge, the Department of Public Health has until May to get all their rules and regulations situated — I guess, what the card and the format is going to look like, and the applications for those cards,” says Thomas.
People with “debilitating medical conditions,” including cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, hepatitis C, and Parkinson’s disease can apply for medical marijuana cards with a prescription from their doctor.
The state will oversee up to 35 dispensary sights where card-carrying patients can legally purchase marijuana.
I don’t smoke pot but I did and I believe it
Will help those who need it but then you have those who will take advantage of the situation
People are stupid this should have never pass.
I think i have glaucoma lol
My liver hurts from drinking, maybe I can get a pot card.
This doesn’t make sense. Pot is not good for you to do as they say in the commercials but it is good for you and even legal if for a medical purpose.. Am I missing something here.
with this being legal, it will get out on the streets just like any other drugs
They stopped airing most of the anti pot commercials because they were all propaganda. Pot is not that bad for you. And in some cases, when used in moderation, it can be good for you. They’ve done studies that show it shrinks most tumors and can prevent breast cancer. I’m not trying to be an *******, but you should actually do some research before you feel the need to comment on something like this. Your comments just make you seem uneducated and ignorant. And it won’t cause more drug problems. Most current pot dealers will go out of business because people who use it for medication will now be able to get it from a responsible, legal source. Marijuana has far less negative side effects than all the pills that are being prescribed to people now. Open your mind and do some research, this is a good thing. Now if only they would just legalize it and tax it like Colorado, it would help the economy so much.
I can’t get over the negativity and ignorance on this thread. Wow. If you don’t like the idea of it, then fine, you don’t have to use it.
Who are you to tell someone they can’t use a certain kind of medicine? It’s none of your business. If you don’t like it, don’t use it. Don’t tell someone else they can’t benefit because you’re a closed minded ….
^^who are you talking to? I’m trying to follow along here and your comment doesn’t fit?? I’m confused…
It’s been legal in California for Meds for a while now.. Its not a bad thing .. They sould take some of those other pain Meds of the market that have bad side effects…
How will it work if you do have a medical card as far as driving after smoking? What about drug test at work…are you exempt? Will all the people with medical cards be unemployed or suddenly disabled? It will help some people, but then there are the others…
So the police stops a car and there is a strong odor of marijuana. What do they do now? Is there an on site test? Will they establish legal limits for THC in the blood stream while driving? Will they establish parameters for impaired driving under THC? If somebody causes an accident while driving under the influence of Marijuana, how will they establish guilt? Somebody didn’t think this out.
listen people pot doesn’t damage ur lungs worse then cigarettes. plus numbs ur nerve cells that kills them and they can’t repair themselves. the dumd *** government should think long and hard on this one. u repair a problem but u deal with several more in the long run…… to be continued
Apparently Laurie did no research and decided to comment in here on a whim and make herself look like an ***. And driving while high isn’t the same thing as driving while intoxicated. You’ll never see a high person swerving all over the road. And most highs wear off within an hour or two, unlike booze. If much rather be in the car with a high person than a drunk person. There will be no on site testing bc no such test exists. It will be up to officers to decide if the person is under the influence enough to not be driving. Just like alcohol.
WHO CARES WHAT YA THINK LETS LEGALIZE
If you get pulled over in Cali with a smell of weed and you show your Med Canabis card they usually just let you go.. It happens a lot out here.. I think if you where really wicked Hi and the police saw this they might take you in but when you go to the Judge they almost always dismiss the case .. I got a lot of friends that this has happened to .. There is no test for amount of THC . as far as the work is concerned you just go to the Head Shop and get the bottle of something and you got clean Pee and hour later.. Jobs still test and will get rid of you if you have reefer in your system..
Yes, you’re missing that you pay too much attention to propagandized commercials. Pretty much this: If you saw it on TV, someone lied to make money.