America is falling apart and the only ballots being put forward are for people to get high. This will have nothing to do with helping sick people in the long run. Just look at California for an example.

other than, chemical drugs, the Drs know NOTHING about pain relief, Marajuana works for some people close to me.

And the stoners come out. Didn't take you too long to spill your rhetoric on us now did it. Imagine you put this energy into helping your fellow human being do something other than get high. Explain California and the violence and trends in that state for us please, all marijuana related.

Jillian is a professional advocate for marijuana and has comments on any marijuana story that come out not only on Patch but on many other pages as well. Take her for what her group is.I think Emmet just gets baked.

I am 100% for legalizing marijuana the only thing I see may be an issue and I've seen it in other states is letting people grow up to six plants with a card. That just opens a window for the drug dealers to try to disguise their operation. Have the dependencies carry the product only, you don't get a card to make Oxycontin. For those against legalizing marijuana understand your train of thougt is because yo grew up being told it was bad and no good, but before you judge a book by it's cover know your facts first and really if you don't like it then don't use it. It's understandable that you want to keep it out children's hands (i would) but no matter what you think you do, they will always find a way and there is worse things than marijuana that are legal that children get into. My opinion if i had to choose a teenager getting into marijuana or alcohol, prescription drugs, other illegal drugs, even cigarettes, I would choose marijuana.

Nice spin Kevin you and your advocate groups should do a little homework on the small towns in the mountain areas that have been destroyed or certain areas of San Francisco that look like Blade Runner. You have your hazy opinions and I have mine. How about fixing our problems without adding to them. I know we can pay off the worlds debt and give them the munchies with the tax dollars it will generate. Save that for you and your pals at the hempfest.

Kevin is part of a group too. Every marijuana story on the internet gets commented on from his group without any local knowledge or concern for our community or anyone elses either.

Kevin and Jillian as much as i agree with some of the things you are saying, and stand closer to your point than the others who commented, I must offer this advice, don't fall for irrelevant arguments, and argue them with more irrelevant points, it makes it seem emotionally charged and biased. Christines three statements are irrelevant to the article, and seemingly only made to start a strawman argument. She sounds like she is only here to spin off topic and portray those who support it as emotional charged rhetoric spouting hippies, which quit frankly she almost nails. good job Christine. but if you are to clarify her meaning, you see how irrelevant it is to Medical Cannabis in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. One must not validate association of strawman argumentation, by arguing against it. I would suggest asking more questions to further clarify the persons meaning so that one can argue against relevant issues in relation to the article, and or when having an empirical argument simply let the ignorant hang themselves.

question one: Christine do you believe Cannabis has no medical use?

question two: Christine what about California should I be looking at?

question Three: Christine where on the ballot does it mention anything about getting high?

question four: Lenny without using ad hominem authoritative, circumstantial, and abusive argument, what is it about medical cannabis you have problems with?

question five: Lenny what are your problems? are your problems the only problems in existence? and how do they relate to someone who's problem is that they are sick and need medicine because without they cant function to support there family, or just live without shaking?

At this point the evidence supporting cannabis use as medicine is empirical. The only people arguing this point at this day in age are those with mental health, and behavior problems, that allow ignorance as axiom of mind. In using transactional analysis one can see the parent ego's self centered and often selfish behavior rampant amongst those ignorant type mindsets. It takes to some degree a disassociation or lack of empathy so to say for someone to deny both empirical scientific evidence and humanity. I feel for these types and wish them well regardless.

Please don't forget perception has probability and some lead this, because there is an old saying "first impression is best impression".

It's 2012 people need to WAKE UP.... the crimilization of any drug not just marijuana is so stone age, it's pea brain status quo old school conservative thinking that plagues our country.

1, it's immoral and NOT the governments job to tell anyone what they can or can't put into their bodies period. Your rights go as far as the next persons rights thats all you have to know. If we live in a society where we must protect people from themselves we should just forget about any form of government, it's a laughable idea.

2. The LAWS create the violence. Look at Mexico, look at our own streets, the majority of all violence is drug related, leagialize all drugs and you get rid of the perpetual cycle of violence. How many bootleg alcohol dealers do you see on the streets? Laws control addicts lives they have no choice but crime.

3. Any consistant person who wants drugs criminalized must want alcohol criminalized as well, as thats the most dangerous drug bar none. Majority of all overdoses heroin, perk, coke, ect come in combination with alcohol.

4. MONEY... it's costs around 50k to keep a healthy person in prison for one year.... medical condition and it's 100s of thousands. Is that how you want your money spend for the millions locked up on drug charges? When we could use an iota of that for rehab but the government needs to prison system to control the lower classes of society born with no opertunities.

You can never underestimate the stupidity of idiots in masses.

Should Massachusetts allow marijuana to be used and grown for medicinal purposes? This is the actual question at hand and what is up for discussion. Please if you are not commenting on the actual issue of medical cannabis refrain from using this forum for your personal agenda and or outlet on your beliefs about Marijuana in general. It is hindering and slowing the legalization of the medicine for Patients who are in NEED. I am a resident of Mass and diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and YES Cannabis should be legalized for Medicinal purposes. There is enough legitimate research that proves that Cannabis is a viable source to reduce spasticity in MS, reduce Pain, and slow progression of the disease. While people are deciding if they are OK with Cannabis people like me wait in Pain without hope and are subject to medicines that are legal that are more harmful than the disease itself??? It makes my family cry and me.

I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome; it is a genetic connective tissue condition I was born with. I have lived my entire life in pain. I am 34 years old and by the time I was 32 I had spent 10 years on prescription narcotic pain medication. It made me miserable, sick, depressed. I couldn't think, move or function. I am extremely lucky to live in a legal state. Two years ago my doctor recommended medical marijuana, 6 months ago I came off ALL narcotic medication. I do not get 'high', after ten years of not being able to have a clear thought I am returning to school and have hope for my future. Narcotics nearly killed me; I was on such high doses I accidentally overdosed multiple times on those legal medications. I am so happy not to have to worry about accidentally killing myself on my new medication. Marijuana has never killed anyone. Marijuana saved my life and gave me a life worth living; I even have some days where I am not in pain at all.

Please, people of Massachusetts, if you are healthy consider that not everyone is and some of us have catastrophic health problems you could not imagine, we wouldn't want you to. I would not wish my pain on my worst enemy. Have compassion for us who struggle everyday just to get out of bed. This is a medicine, I went from being completely non functioning to being able to dress myself, make my own food, leave my house. These actions you take for granted I was unable to do before I started medical marijuana.

Let the sick go unpunished.... Vote yes

This is comical.

Has prohibition ever worked? Let the suffering have their meds!! Why would anyone care what another adult puts in his/her own body? Seems to be a very easy decision for me.

Im a 26 year old quadroplegic that suffers from chronic pain, full body spasms from legs, wrist and neck. I've Bernard on every pain killer known to help even propavoll also know as mothers milk or Michael Jackson killer and have had problems with my liver and kidney already at a young age and alot of stress on my relationship due to being in a zone and quick tempered from narcotics i ask those who want to object the medical cannabis vote please come sit and watch me live my day without it and tell us as patients its not right...narcotics make me drule and a zombie while cannabis keeps me sane and numb from spasms for hours.
VOTE YES!

Drew you can already get marijuana legally. You are not an issue I think the doctor farms that pop up to "prescribe" every little ache or complaint is going to be the problem. It has happened in every other state that has done this. Stoners and wasteoids please continue the nonsense now.Tell us how good it is for everyone