A recent CBS News poll showed that Americans don’t just think marijuana use should be legal — they also now think using it out in the open is socially acceptable. Fifty-three percent of the respondents said it was socially acceptable to use it openly.
What’s Bedford Thinking?
First, a little history on marijuana in Massachusetts from the Massachusetts Cannabis Information website.
Massachusetts Marijuana Laws Recreational marijuana has been legal in Massachusetts since 2017 for individuals over 21. This has been a slow culmination of acceptance of marijuana starting back in 2008 with decriminalization. Massachusetts voters voted for the Massachusetts Sensible Marijuana Policy Initiative.
This ballot initiative was passed by 63 percent of the Commonwealth’s voters In 2012, the Medical Use of Marijuana (Question 3) was approved by 63 percent of Commonwealth voters. Following this approval, an individual with a debilitating medical condition and a medical marijuana program card may use marijuana for medical purposes
In 2016, through another ballot initiative, Massachusetts voters approved the Legalization, Regulation, and Taxation of Marijuana Initiative (Question 4). The initiative passed with 54 percent of the votes. In a bid to develop a better regulatory framework, the Massachusetts Legislature voted to delay the implementation of the law. Finally, in July 2017, An Act to Ensure Safe Access to Marijuana was passed by the State’s Legislature. This Act strengthened both the medical and recreational marijuana industry policy framework and created the Cannabis Control Commission to regulate marijuana policies in the Commonwealth Even so, although it is legal for those over 21, there are restrictions for both sales and consumption, Massachusetts does not permit public consumption of marijuana
So What’s Bedford Thinking?
So What’s Bedford Thinking? Using marijuana openly is socially...
- Acceptable (53%, 183 Votes)
- Unacceptable (42%, 145 Votes)
- No opinion (5%, 18 Votes)
Total Voters: 346
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There is interest in having cannabis cafes – a venue for socializing especially for those who are avoiding alcohol.
This question is not nuanced enough. What type of cannabis? Smoking? Most people don’t want to smell or inhale that if it’s not their choice. Using edibles, tinctures, or creams? That doesn’t quite matter if it’s in public, does it?
Neither nicotine nor cannabis should be smoked in public as it effects other people.
We need to ban the use of cigarettes in public! So called “nicotine” (actually a toxic carcinogen!) has caused damage to the lungs of far too many via second hand smoke.