The
Phoenix has brought Massachusetts extensive coverage of medical
marijuana and just weed in general since long before the passage of
Question 3 last month. But in the time since, we've ramped it up,
writing weekly on everything from municipal zoning of dispensaries,
to the care-giver situation, to health insurance for your kind buds,
to potential penalties, to legislative hurdles, to whether you can use out-of-state
permissions, to hella green careers.
Weed don't have all the answers though. Which is why we're glad to see that
the Department of Public Health – who, truth be told, have been exploring many of these issues even than even all of us – is opening its
doors for a two-way discussion. From the announcement on their web site:
DPH Announces Listening
Sessions on Development of Medical Marijuana Regulations
In November 2012,
Massachusetts voters approved Ballot Question 3, Humanitarian Medical
Use of Marijuana, which became law on January 1, 2013. This measure
allows qualifying patients with certain medical conditions to obtain
and use medical marijuana.
The ballot question makes medical
marijuana legal in the Commonwealth and the Massachusetts Department
of Public Health (DPH) is required to issue regulations on the
implementation of this law by May 1, 2013. To that end, DPH is
considering several important issues to ensure safe and responsible
use.
DPH is dedicated to
engaging stakeholders and learning from other states' experiences in
order put in place a system that is right for Massachusetts, ensuring
both appropriate access and safe and secure communities for our
children and families. DPH is soliciting input from interested
parties in shaping these regulations.
Please join the
DPH at three special Listening Sessions*
Worcester,
MA
Wednesday, February
13, 2013
2PM – 5PM
Worcester Public
Library
Saxe Room
3 Salem Square
Worcester, MA 01608
Boston,
MA
Thursday, February 14,
2013
10AM – 1PM
Roxbury Community College
Reggie Lewis Track &
Athletic Center
1350 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02120
Holyoke,
MA
Wednesday, February
27, 2013
1:30PM – 4:30PM
Holyoke Community
College
Kittredge Business Center
303 Homestead Ave
Holyoke, MA 01040
*NOTE: For
requests of reasonable accommodations, please contact Cindy Adams
Email:
cindy.adams@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-624-5203
*Please note that
these Listening Sessions do not take the place of required public
hearings. These Listening Sessions are designed as a forum
forMassachusetts residents and stakeholders to provide input as the
regulations are drafted.
Each
interested party will be allowed up to 3 minutes to comment in order
to accommodate all attendees. DPH is seeking input on a number of
specific issues and looks forward to receiving your input on the
following:
-Patient
eligibility and debilitating medical conditions
-Guidance and
training for physicians
-Operations of a
medical marijuana treatment center, including security requirements
-60-day supply of
marijuana
-Use of marijuana
in food products for medical purposes
-Requirements for
hardship cultivation registrations
-Monitoring of
medical marijuana treatment centers and enforcement of regulations
If you are unable
to attend, written comments and feedback are equally valued by DPH,
and can be submitted via email at MedicalMarijuana@state.ma.us
or by mailing to:
Department
of Public Health
Attn:
Medical Marijuana Listening Sessions
250
Washington Street, 2nd Floor
Boston,
MA 02108
Comments
will be accepted through Thursday, February 28, 2013
The specific
wording of the Humanitarian Use of Medical Marijuana law
A Frequently Asked Questions
document on the DPH role in implementing regulations to support the
law:
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