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Articles by Andy Gaus
QUESTIONS FOR OUR GOV-TO-BE ...
Ed. note: These are not actual images of the gubernatorial candidates smoking pot I invite all reporters, interviewers, and commentators in Mass to plagiarize the rest of this column by asking these questions of all candidates for governor: 1. Do you favor legal recreational marijuana in Massachusetts or should the prohibition continue? If it should continue, what advantages has it brought us and what good does it promise for the future? Has it been effective in cutting off access to minors? 2.
ZONING OUT IN ESSEX
Where should a medical marijuana dispensary be located? Not too close to anywhere. In fact, nowhere. That's the substance of a set of ordinances adopted by the town of Essex at a town meeting in June, as reported by the Newburyport Daily News. Dispensaries in Essex must not be within 2500 feet (about five blocks or half a mile) of a school or playground, or within 1500 feet of a residence. As chance would have it, that excludes the entire town except for a couple of dirt paths bordering a swamp.
TAXING QUESTIONS
Legalization advocates are a rare breed: they can't wait for the day when they will be allowed to pay more taxes. But how should marijuana be taxed? That's a good question, or rather, a series of messy questions. (And maybe you can help answer one of them: read on.) First question: What do you tax? The selling price or the weight of what's sold?
POLS FIND EDIBLES HARD TO SWALLOW
When they legalized weed in Colorado in 2012, something bad was bound to happen in terms of public perception, and soon enough it did: a man killed his wife after consuming a massive dose of cannabis-infused sweets. Since then, edibles have been the focus of some extreme bursts of Reefer Madness.
CANNABIS GROWER THE FIRST IN HIS PRISON TO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
Pictured: Maglio Despite experiencing body pains, a headache, coughing, and sweating, Maglio reported to his family that his request to see a doctor was refused. David Maglio’s cannabis habit has already cost him plenty. In March 2016, his home in Hull was raided by a SWAT team based on his high electric bills and a statement by a cop that he smelled marijuana coming from the house. It didn’t matter that Maglio was a medical marijuana patient with a hardship cultivation license.
FOLLOW-UP: STILL JAILED FOR GROWING
David Maglio convicted in federal court of cultivating so much cannabis that he must have been selling it In March 2016, police in Hull raided the home where David Maglio, a registered medical marijuana patient with a hardship cultivation license, was growing his own cannabis.
Follow-Up: Why Is He Still Jailed For Growing?
David Maglio convicted in federal court of cultivating so much cannabis that he must have been selling it In March 2016, police in Hull raided the home where David Maglio, a registered medical marijuana patient with a hardship cultivation license, was growing his own cannabis.
JAILED FOR A MEDICAL GROW
Hull police targeted a couple for cannabis. Now the feds are pushing for a serious sentence. If you think that nobody in Massachusetts goes to jail for growing their own medical cannabis anymore, just meet David Maglio. You can write him at the Dedham jail, where he has been held in pretrial detention for more than three years. Early in the morning on March 17, 2016, he heard voices outside his door. “Hello, Hull Electric. Can we come in?” Maglio opened the door.
Jailed For A Medical Grow
Hull police targeted a couple for cannabis. Now the feds are pushing for a serious sentence. If you think that nobody in Massachusetts goes to jail for growing their own medical cannabis anymore, just meet David Maglio. You can write him at the Dedham jail, where he has been held in pretrial detention for more than three years. Early in the morning on March 17, 2016, he heard voices outside his door. “Hello, Hull Electric. Can we come in?” Maglio opened the door.
RESCUING LEFTOVER CUISINE: STANDING BETWEEN FOOD AND THE DUMPSTER
Left: Lauren Basler heads the Massachusetts branch of Rescuing Leftover Cuisine; Right: A rescue in progress Some 30 percent to 40 percent of America’s food goes to waste, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
CEASEFIRE ON THE COMMON
Every year after the Boston Freedom Rally, there are complaints from downtown residents: the noise, the smell, the destruction of the Common, and above all, the trash! These complaints are often passed on to the Friends of the Public Garden, a public-service group dedicated to preserving Boston’s public spaces. In previous years, MassCann/NORML, the sponsor of the rally, and the Friends have mostly traded accusations.
Cannabis Ceasefire On Boston Common
MassCann and the Friends of the Public Garden try to be friends Every year after the Boston Freedom Rally, there are complaints from downtown residents: the noise, the smell, the destruction of the Common, and above all, the trash! These complaints are often passed on to the Friends of the Public Garden, a public-service group dedicated to preserving Boston’s public spaces. In previous years, MassCann/NORML, the sponsor of the rally, and the Friends have mostly traded accusations.
CANNABIS OPPONENT OPPOSED IN HOUSE RACE
As a Mission Hill resident and cannabis advocate, I have vivid memories of the years leading up to the 2012 ballot question legalizing medical marijuana. In those days, till the voters finally took matters into their own hands, all medical marijuana legislation remained bottled up in the Joint Committee of Public Health, chaired by my district’s representative, Jeffrey Sánchez.
Cannabis Opponent Opposed In House Race
Nika Elugardo gives Jeffrey Sánchez a run for his money As a Mission Hill resident and cannabis advocate, I have vivid memories of the years leading up to the 2012 ballot question legalizing medical marijuana. In those days, till the voters finally took matters into their own hands, all medical marijuana legislation remained bottled up in the Joint Committee of Public Health, chaired by my district’s representative, Jeffrey Sánchez.
BIG LIES emerge against legal marijuana in Mass
For the past few weeks, opponents of legalization have been piling on. A now-infamous op-ed by the Commonwealth’s governor, attorney general, and most powerful mayor in the Boston Globe. The report of the state Senate committee on marijuana. A declaration of the Massachusetts Hospital Organization. Against, against, against. Arguments range from the anticipated evils of Big Marijuana (apparently the only kind of business that shouldn’t be big) to the dangers of edibles.
WHEN IT COMES TO CANNABIS, COMPASSION STOPS AT THE STATE LINE
Linda is a medical marijuana patient registered in Massachusetts who recently wrote to MassCann about her situation. When she visits family in Michigan, she can’t take her medicine along, because Michigan and Massachusetts don’t honor each other’s patient IDs. In fact, Massachusetts doesn’t have reciprocity agreements with any other medical marijuana states.
HEMP HANGS BY A THREAD IN MASS
While recreational weed seems to be ready to lurch into being this summer, the state’s hemp crop so far is a nonstarter. The problem isn’t mold or bugs. It’s Charlie Baker. And farmers like Linda Noel, who wants to grow hemp in Franklin, are at the end of their rope. She reports: “The staff at the Department of Agriculture (MDAR) have worked for months drafting regulations for hemp production.
Hemp Hangs By A Thread In Mass
Image by D-Kuru Gov. Baker’s office strings hemp farmers along While recreational weed seems to be ready to lurch into being this summer, the state’s hemp crop so far is a nonstarter. The problem isn’t mold or bugs. It’s Charlie Baker. And farmers like Linda Noel, who wants to grow hemp in Franklin, are at the end of their rope. She reports: “The staff at the Department of Agriculture (MDAR) have worked for months drafting regulations for hemp production.
FEVER DREAMS AT THE CCC
The draft put forth by the state’s Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) of its proposed regulations for the industry is a nightmarish vision: stoners who smoke through a lid every three days, robbers lurking in the shadows around stores and dispensaries, delivery drivers making a stop at the local junior high school before driving off for parts unknown.
Fever Dreams At The CCC
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TOUGH ROW TO HOE: LINDA NOEL DISHES DIRT ON CANNABIS FARMING
Linda Noel, a co-founder of MassCann/NORML and its current treasurer, is also an active and practicing farmer, growing heirloom tomatoes in Franklin. Here are her thoughts about cannabis farming these days. Are you looking to grow cannabis yourself? If so, where? Yes, here in Franklin. My brother and I have 40 acres, and I have a greenhouse. I’ve been growing tomatoes for 20 years. I want to grow medicinal hemp as well as medical marijuana.
LETTER TO MY DEALER ABOUT ALL THAT BAD STUFF I'VE BEEN SAYING
Do you mind if I call you Vinny, since that isn’t your name? I want to apologize. I’ve been badmouthing you for over a year, telling everyone within earshot that we need to open legal stores to protect our children and communities from the likes of you: predatory street dealers who lurk in alleyways, preying on kids and pushing harder drugs. Actually, I don’t think you’re like that at all. I have no reason to think you’re selling to eighth-graders, and you haven’t suggested I try a little fentanyl.
MASSCANN/NORML PICKS A FEW FIGHTS
What do you do if you’re a doctor on a battlefield of broken bodies? You ignore those who will probably live and those who will probably die and concentrate on those who could go either way. It’s called triage.
Get those seeds in the ground right away, Mass
Ed. Note: This column was made possible by Mass Secretary of State William Galvin, who finally announced that he will do his freaking job and submit official results of the Question 4 ballot initiative for certification before Dec 15, the day that voters pulled for cannabis prohibition to end in the Commonwealth. Hey, all you law-abiding stoners out there: As of Thursday, you can legally light up some weed. Only problem: Unless you have a medical marijuana card, you can’t buy any.
VICTORY DANCE IN THE GATHERING GLOOM
For the capacity crowd gathered at Lir on Boylston Street to cheer on Question 4, Election Night was an emotional seesaw on steroids. One minute all voices were lifted together to cheer legal pot as the Yes vote on Question 4 passed 50 percent and held its lead. The next minute, each face was isolated in disbelieving pain as Trump took over the map of (what used to be) America. By night’s end, legal marijuana seemed like a newborn babe abandoned in the dark woods of a Trump regime.
Bring marijuana business above ground
Opponents of Question 4 paint it as a measure that will bring marijuana to Massachusetts, make it available to minors, and create a large marijuana industry in the state. In fact, we have marijuana, it’s readily available to minors, and there’s already a large marijuana industry. The only question is whether we want an illegal industry or a legal one.
An update on the persecution of a beloved Mass cannabis activist
It’s been an interesting month to be Bill Downing. A longtime Massachusetts cannabis activist, he spent the better part of September laboring under two double standards of justice at once, making for a quadruple standard of justice for a very special guy. First, as a representative of MassCann/NORML, he endured the City of Boston’s dueling permitting standards for use of Boston Common: For most events, there is a smooth and simple process, with permits issued in a timely manner.
THE OTHER BOSTON CITY HALL EXTORTION STORY
The United States Department of Justice may be investigating Boston City Hall employees for allegedly pushing Boston Calling music festival promoters to hire union stagehands, but there is another form of similar extortion that has continued unabated for years. Just consider MassCann’s annual struggle to secure permits for its Freedom Rally each September. Before issuing permits, officials often hold a so-called citywide meeting with representatives of all affected departments of government.
THE TOKIN’ TRUTH
A few weeks ago, on the Boston.com Morning Show with Kim Carrigan on WRKO, Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson was asked by a listener, “Will you oppose the proposal for a Boston medical marijuana ban on new dispensaries within one mile of an existing zoned site?” The conversation led to Jackson saying that some patients are still having difficulty gaining access to cannabis as a result of high cost and low accessibility.
How Cities Like Boston Hurt Patients By Limiting Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
It's a common refrain when legal, recreational, or even medical marijuana is coming online in any state or municipality. "Money and business are going to take over everything." In Massachusetts, that reality is playing out in the state's biggest city and capital of Boston, as residents statewide consider a voter initiative to "regulate marijuana like alcohol" that will appear on their ballot in November.
FRIENDLY TOAST: AN ANTIQUE LAW LENDS HOPE FOR A LEGALIZED FUTURE
[Ed. Note: Over the past month, we have lent this space to advocates from various corners of the cannabis reform community, and we encourage you to read all their contributions. To follow last week’s close examination of the unraveling of Bay State Repeal, this week’s guest is Andy Gaus, a BSR backer, who offers a look at the long road ahead. Oh, and while we have you here, sorry for not covering the trip taken to Colorado by Massachusetts lawmakers who are allegedly learning about cannabis.
Will the Massachusetts legislature, like, do something?
You almost feel like a proud parent watching the Massachusetts legislature take a few uncertain, toddling steps toward marijuana law reform, even if it won’t get far before falling on its dear little bottom. A bill to repeal cannabis prohibition has been filed—that’s happened before—but this time it’s expected to be brought to the floor instead of being bottled up in committee. And it has co-sponsors in both the House and Senate.
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