Okay, I had a little fun with the blog yesterday. I received a couple of text messages, e-mails and a telephone call from people who apparently are property owners like myself in bizarro world who seem to get the humor and intent. One or two of you seemed to find it a bit offensive, crude, not worthy of the subject.
As I state occasionally my perspective on humor can be a bit off kilter from time to time. It is what it is. For some it isn't very much. I get it. But since the cost to read the blog is nothing but your time, what do you expect.
Anyway ... it is a serious subject that does have people concerned on many fronts.
The simple reality is it is now legal for medical use in Massachusetts. You cannot prohibit the facilities from entering our town or any community. You can enact reasonable zoning regulations govern the new industry and retail business. You can impose reasonable permitting fees. There isn't much else you can do about it though.
I fully support the use of it for medical purposes. I have absolutely no objection that the law passed. I also have no delusions that medical use was the sole intent behind the bulk of the politic push to get the law passed.
In fact, from the political pundit perspective, the push for legalization, both medicinal and recreational, is on of the savviest political movements going on. Take a look at the numerous web sites and blogs. the bulk of them advocate a strong game plan with long term goals. About 15 years ago it seems many light bulbs lit up (pardon the pun) simultaneously. A long term strategy was formed, and it is working.
In this state alone, possession of an ounce or less has been decriminalized. Pull a car over and have a strong odor of pot, no longer is that automatic grounds to search a vehicle. See people standing around passing a joint, might be able to write out a few tickets, but that's it.
Think liquor stores folks, because that the concept we will be seeing.
This ain't one of those issues that is going to get me seriously up in arms, on either side of the matter. Its a business at least the medical aspect of it. Regulate it that way. Zone it that way. If you have fears about it creeping into your neighborhood, guess what, it probably is there all ready. No matter what town, what section of town.
A shocker statement, just perhaps.
Be safe.
This ain't one of those issues that is going to get me seriously up in arms, on either side of the matter. Its a business at least the medical aspect of it. Regulate it that way. Zone it that way. If you have fears about it creeping into your neighborhood, guess what, it probably is there all ready. No matter what town, what section of town.
A shocker statement, just perhaps.
Be safe.
Nice piece of writing to keep the reader looking for the jist of the story.Thirty lines or so and the word (POT) finally appeared,evidently it is the story line for those who dont want to hear it many times thru any articles.Like the writer said ,get used to it ,its coming an will be staying.
ReplyDeleteWhy does it take "liquor store" thinking when trying to imagine what kind of facility is going to be needed to distribute a drug that should only be given to the most extreme cases? Because it's not going to be just given to the most extreme cases.
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to imagine that the most serious cancer sufferers will be eligible. And then maybe those with severe chronic pains. But look at the difference between what is now considered debilitating pain with what was considered debilitating pain 10, 15, or 20 years ago. OSHA regulations have gotten tighter and tighter, but more and more workers have chronic debilitating pain. Even young people who don't work have developed chronic debilitating pain that renders them unable to work.
We'll need the "liquor store" type of dispensary to meet the demand. Compare it to the methadone clinic. Where there's a need, there will be a supply.