When deciding how you’re going to vote on Question 4, please consider three things you may not realize:
If this ballot initiative fails, it cannot be on the ballot again until 2022. And nothing similar can be on the ballot for six years. Waiting six years to get cannabis out of the black market is too long. If you think the so-called political leaders will legalize cannabis legislatively during that time, you are kidding yourself.
If Question 4 passes, it does not automatically become law. Far from it. The Legislature has an opportunity to amend or even completely throw out the approved measure! In real terms, what this means is that if Question 4 passes with a slim majority, the Legislature can and probably will tweak the heck out of it.
However, if the measure passes with a substantial majority, the Legislature might get the message that they shouldn’t mess with it too much. This ballot initiative is so comprehensive that there is guaranteed to be something in it that everyone will disagree with. Please don’t vote against Question 4 because there is some part of it you don’t like. Let’s pass Question 4 and then tweak it.
This ballot initiative is for adult use only. No one wants kids using marijuana except drug dealers! Cannabis has been used in Massachusetts for over 50 years. It is not going away. A “No” vote on Question 4 leaves the current black market in place.
The drug dealers want you to vote “No.” They want Question 4 to fail. If you vote “No,” you are doing what the drug dealers want! Think about it. Is that what you really want? Really? Let’s adopt a policy that makes cannabis safe and at the same time reduces the black market.
In the privacy of the voting booth, please vote “Yes” on 4. This is our best chance to finally have a sane and safe marijuana policy. Let’s not miss this opportunity.
Andy Smith
Ashfield