The Massachusetts Legislature needs to maintain the “high” in highschool.
Lawmakers in all their infinite knowledge tucked slightly seen provision into the hashish reform invoice that might examine whether or not to introduce medical marijuana to youngsters in secondary and elementary faculty.
Read the invoice: Cannabis Reform Act
The invoice was swiftly handed on the very finish of this yr’s legislative session, as typical with little public debate.
Here’s the verbatim textual content from part 26:
“The cannabis control commission, in consultation with the department of elementary and secondary education and the department of public health, shall conduct a study on the possession, administration and consumption of medical marijuana, as defined in chapter 941, at public or private schools in the commonwealth as it relates to students who have been issued valid registration cards pursuant to said chapter 941.”
Democrats and Republicans on the convention committee, in addition to House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka, all signed off on the language, which fits on to state that the “study” shall embody an “examination” of insurance policies on the possession and consumption of medical marijuana by faculty youngsters, an “analysis” of present authorized obstacles, a “survey of available methods” of consumption and storage of medical marijuana at faculties, “recommendations on best practices … to ensure that students have access” to medical pot, and “recommendations on eliminating obstacles and expanding accommodations to possess, administer and consume” medical marijuana at private and non-private faculties.
It’s slightly wordy however fairly expansive and clear that this might open the door to elementary and secondary faculty youngsters consuming medical marijuana, regardless of well-documented potential adversarial results on youngsters.
And it may have been worse. The Legislature neglected a Senate provision to supply medical marijuana to college students and jail inmates.
But unsaid on this convention committee language is that weed can truly be harmful for underage youngsters, who below present regulation are barred from consuming leisure hashish.
It’s now as much as Gov. Charlie Baker, who has not been an enthusiastic backer of marijuana use, to signal or reject the invoice or advocate amendments or adjustments to the invoice.
He may actually strike part 26 from the invoice however the Legislature may additionally intervene to place the language again in.
It’s all a part of the hassle to normalize hashish and its medicinal results. Recreational pot and medical marijuana are all authorized below present Massachusetts regulation.
And when you like the concept of your youngsters getting legally stoned in class, this invoice is ideal for you.
The invoice awaiting Baker’s signature additionally would make main alterations within the trade, making a pool of funds for extra various and historically disenfranchised marijuana operators to make it extra equitable.
A whopping 15% of the state’s tax revenues from pot gross sales would go into the fund, which might provide grants and loans.
The invoice additionally would improve state oversight of economic agreements between communities and the state, and open the door to on-site consumption institutions.
Baker aides say he’s learning the invoice however wouldn’t provide hints on what he would possibly signal or reject.
Let’s hope he’s studying this one intently.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”