Despite shameful scare tactics and outright lies by opponents, Massachusetts and Michigan voters sent a signal to the new administration on Tuesday that it’s time for this country to take a hard look at our current marijuana policies.
Massachusetts voters approved a marijuana decriminalization initiative by a 65 percent to 35 percent margin, Michigan voters enacted the nation’s 13th medical marijuana law by a 63 percent to 37 percent margin, and at least nine local reform measures were approved by voters in communities across the county, including Hawaii and Arkansas .
In Massachusetts, criminal penalties for possession of an ounce or less of marijuana will be replaced by a fine of $100, similar to a speeding ticket.
In Michigan, patients with serious diseases like HIV/AIDS, cancer, and multiple sclerosis will no longer have to fear arrest if they use marijuana pursuant to the recommendation of a doctor and have a state-issued I.D. card. One in four Americans now live in a state with such protections.
President-elect Barack Obama has said he would end federal raids on patients and caregivers obeying state medical marijuana laws.
Missouri legislators should take note and pass a medical marijuana law next session.
Kelly Maddy, president, Joplin NORML
Joplin
Opinion
Voices: Take note
- Opinion
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Our View: Victims should come first
Millions of dollars in donations have poured in from around the world since the May 22, 2011, tornado. Those donations represent money from lemonade stands, charity auctions, corporate gifts and celebrity checks, just to name a few. In fact, one year later donations continue to come to Joplin.
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Beth Meeker, guest columnist: Same-sex marriage battle a quest for equal rights
I would like to take a moment to reply to guest columnist Anson Burlingame’s, “The Marriage Debate” (Globe, May 13).
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Sunday Forum: 2012 graduation speakers key on tornado, mall school and president’s visit
Editor’s note: In addition to speeches by President Barack Obama and Gov. Jay Nixon, Joplin High School’s top students addressed graduates, faculty, parents and other guests packed into the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on the Missouri Southern State University campus. Following are the text of those speeches.
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Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Pack mentality takes truth as a casualty
President Obama’s Joplin graduation speech Monday showed that while there’s the political “right,” there’s also a very active “rabid” political right.
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Your View: ‘Study’ can mean anything
A few evenings ago, I watched a television program on the science of marriage.
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Our View: Support for museum
How can you tell the story of Joplin without the accounts of its mining history?
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Our View: Finding middle ground
The G-8 summit held last week in Camp David ended as expected.
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Anson Burlingame, guest columnist: Class of 2012 upholds character, hope
My oldest granddaughter was part of the class of 2012 from Joplin High School, and I attended the ceremony on Monday night.
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Scott Charton, guest columnist: 'Deadline in Disaster' film a story about storytellers
Local newspapers are at their best when they help their communities confront, understand, endure and overcome shared challenges.
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Our View: Make voting easiser
This year’s ballot will not include a proposed constitutional amendment that photo identification be required at the polls in Missouri. Good.
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Our View: Victims should come first
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