September 14, 2016
Dear Friends,
One question that keeps coming my way is, "So, Rabbi, what do you think of the upcoming election?"
Well, so far, I've resisted offering my opinions about that. But I do want to take this opportunity to draw your attention to one particular initiative that will be on the Massachusetts ballot in November. I'm referring to Question 4.
Question 4 concerns--depending on your point of view--either the legalization, or the commercialization, of marijuana in Massachusetts.
For the past several years, marijuana use has been decriminalized in Massachusetts. Also, it is legal to sell and to procure marijuana for medical purposes. However, it is not currently legal to buy or sell marijuana in the Commonwealth for recreational use. Question 4 seeks to change that.
The Needham Clergy Association, of which I've long been a member, is co-sponsoring a forum next Thursday evening (September 22) at 7:00 pm in Powers Hall in Town Hall, entitled, "
Marijuana Legalization: Why It Matters To You." This forum will feature
John Kelly, PhD, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry in Addiction Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the founder and Director of the Recovery Research Institute at MGH; and
Kevin A. Sabet, PhD
,
an author, drug policy consultant, and cofounder of Project SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana).
The focus of the forum will be:
1)
The effects of marijuana use on youth and the developing brain;
2)
The public health impacts of legalization in other states; and
3)
The details of the ballot initiative.
At a recent meeting of the Clergy Association, we reviewed some of the data which will be presented at the forum. Some of it, particularly regarding the impact of legalization on teens in Colorado, may be surprising to you. As might be expected, members of the Association hold a wide variety of views on the wisdom of this initiative. Nonetheless, we all supported the idea of an educational forum of this kind to inform our community about this important issue.
Whichever way you are leaning on this ballot initiative, I encourage you to keep an open mind and to come to Town Hall next Thursday evening to learn more about it.
Very truly yours,
Rabbi Carl M. Perkins
PS In order to prepare for the number of attendees anticipated, the Town is asking that you register for the Forum. You can do that by clicking here and then clicking on the appropriate link. Thank you!
