Massachusetts Joint Revenue Committee hearing on marijuana legalization, regulation, taxation, and the right to grow your own for personal, non commercial use with Keith Stroup (NORML), Bill Downing, Steven Epstein (MassCann/NORML), State Reps and Senators.
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Comments
Keith Stroup is our only respectable witness in this video. I can almost pardon Bill Downing for his accusatory tone, if only because the council calmly defused it--one member giving our argument a push in the right direction, asking how much tax revenue could be generated... and we don't have the number? No, wait, we have this guy: Steven Epstein, who's passionate--believe him--who's been in the business of pot prophecy since he was eighteen years old, probably in 1970--who's staggering on his feet--whose voice tumbles and fumbles for the pitch.... I bet he was high. Fellow Councilmember, did you think he was high? Why yes, I've been high, and I do believe that man was high. Are these our leaders? All these years: are these the tactless, bitter bearers of our standard? Who try to woo their fellow men by unfurling across their faces the label "government" and smearing them with red old songs? If I were a member of that council I would them, and us, for making me the enemy.
Shucks, ruined the big finish:
*I would hate--that word should have been--them, and us, for making me the enemy.
But really, that Keith Stroup did a fine job, very calm, reasonable. You can almost see people not recoiling when he speaks--pay attention, you two.
We would be wise to adopt an approach allowing individuals to grow a little marijuana for personal use. It will put the illegal drug dealers out of business in a year. Limit the size of the growing area or the number of plants, and put a small user-fee on it to cover administrative costs, something like a fishing license.
One possibility:$100 per year for a permit to cultivate a dozen plants.
It's a win-win.
Anthony, I've been to the state house many times at these hearings. The state reps and senators? I have to think that they like Steven Epstein, they know him by name, often laugh and comment that they enjoy his testimony. Greet him in the halls, take private meetings with the man. Did you see the Bill Breault video/testimony that both were reacting to? Did you note that the only person to speak against it was much more accusatory? Did you see the rest of the hearing? They both did a good job.
Concerned parent this bill allows for tax free cultivation for personal use. You can't improve that and the reason the discussion of level of taxation is a mute point. If the tax is to high people will grow their own and the government will lower the tax which they have the power to do with this bill. It works. believe me, if it didn't I would be right with you and pointing out the shortcomings of the bills.
Mike, I saw only this clip. I really shouldn't have said anything--especially nothing so harsh--without the full story. I did worry, though, and do, that reasonable citizens who don't use marijuana and who watch this video will think to themselves: Here's more of this again--hippies spoiling for a fight. But it's the council's job to appear skeptical, and of course they're going to be; they have to be, even if they don't want to be. From an outside perspective it can't appear like they're declaring victory for the anti-prohibitionists, effectively rewarding one side (for its rhetoric) over the other, because when battle lines are drawn, people step to the left or right, automatically, without thinking whether they should, and once they've chosen a side, they want to win more than they want to listen. People will argue for hours over an issue about which they fundamentally agree, though it serves no purpose other than to push back hope of reconciliation. I'll watch the rest now.
It's tough to get the whole feel of the event without doing editing. I think we did more than well. Good testimony and a good number of supporters. Exceptional actually. Better than I would have hoped. Dick Evans sums it up really well. We for the first time had an intelligent debate without jokes or condescending remarks from the elected officials.
Dr. Grinspoon from Harvard, Keith Stroup who you mentioned, MassCann/NORML, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Jack Cole from Law Enforcement from Prohibition (25+ year veteran with NJ State Police and undercover drug officer), Suffolk University NORML, Northeastern SSDP, medical users, the local working class (even many of the folks (non elected officials) who work at the state house), college students.
i'm sorry, i love the work of mr. epstein, but what a horrific answer to that first question. convincing the government to sell grass is not the answer. if medical marijuana is past, that will be all we need. it will lead to caregivers, dispensaries, and the ability to grow your own with local law enforcement butting in. i feel the representation of the countless mass grass advocates are not being presented in the best manner. i know lawyers and doctors with real answers. MASSCANN need help?? e-mail me.
wouldee, email you? How? You know people with real answers? Then where were you and them? The hearing already took place, I didn't see you. Mr. Epstein and many others took the day off from work to be there and you? Criticizing but didnt show up? And your wrong about medical marijuana by the way. Many bills being backed by MPP for instance are not allowing all you'ld like to see. Only two places have dispensaries and grow your own in the way you describe, California and now Colorado. In other states it has led to the government being in charge of the dispensaries with ridiculous rules by the way. You should worry less about Steven Epstein who gets things done and more about doing something so that when medical passes here it's a good bill and not watered down by outsiders funded by billionaires who are just looking for a win and not a good bill....
Seeing this gives me some hope..I was busted last week after my wife was assaulted and the police were called(by a neighbor)to my house. A Hydrofarm catalog on my kitchen counter gave them the excuse to say that they "smelled fresh marijuana" and they had probable cause to get a search warrant.
I foolishly gave them permission,my kids had a half day at school and I didn't want them to come home to cops tearing up the place,and showed them where the 4x2 closet was that I grew in. I had 3 or 4 flowering plants and a number of small clones.
Long story short,my wife and I were both arrested and as we were led out in cuffs Fox 25 and Channel 7 News were outside with their cameras. It was played for two days...just enough to have my wife lose her job of ten years,all the parents in our town that our kids play with and now DSS is paying a visit.
My life is torn apart(and my families)for growing a plant. MASSCANN and NORML are out there fighting for people like me and it gives me hope again
Can you say: Jury Nullification ?????
In Massachusetts, I will bet you can find one person (with a soul and a brain ) on every jury !!!! (1 out of 12)
100.00 dollar fine for being a Idiot, would get this country out of debt, the first month.
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