Mass Doctors Strongly Oppose Recreational Marijuana

Tuesday, December 08, 2015

GoLocalWorcester Health Team

Members of the Massachusetts Medical Society's House of Delegates have voted strongly against the use of medical marijuana in their interim meeting held on Saturday, December 5th.

Physicians Vote Against Recreational Marijuana

Physicians voted to continue to oppose the legalization of recreational marijuana and to advocate and educate regarding the adverse public health effects of recreational marijuana use.

The resolution said that the society urge any proposed legislation supporting use of marijuana specifically prohibit individuals under the age of 21 from possessing or using marijuana or marijuana infused products.

The delegates also urged that any legislation supporting recreational marijuana include revenues for public education and for the prevention and treatment of health consequences to the public.

The society has also taken a position that women of reproductive age who report marijuana use should be counseled about the potential adverse health consequences of its use and should be encouraged to avoid using the drug.

Interim Meeting

The Interim Meeting brings together hundreds of Massachusetts physicians from all over the state to consider specific resolutions on public health policy, health care delivery, and organizational administration by the Society's House of Delegates.

Other policies that were adopted at Saturday's meeting include drug pricing transparency, school start times no earlier than 8:30 a.m., electronic health records, and immunization of physicians.

Massachusetts Medical Society

The Massachusetts Medical Society consists of over 25,000 physicians and student members and is dedicated and is dedicated to educating and advocating for the patients and physicians of Massachusetts.

The society was founded in 1781 and is the oldest continuously operating medical society in the country.

For more information, click here.

Related Slideshow: 10 Things You Need to Know About Marijuana Dispensaries in MA

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#10

The first marijuana dispensary didn't open in Massachusetts until 3 years after voters approved the use of the therapeutic drug.

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#9

June 29, 2015 was the first day that companies could apply to open dispensaries and over 50 applications were submitted.

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#8

The state has awarded 15 out of the allotted 35 applicants with the privilege of growing and selling medical marijuana.

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#7

So far, only six have been given permission to open their doors. :

- In Good Health in Brockton they plan to open later in the summer

- Alternative Therapies Group which was the first to open on June 24

- Compassionate Care in Ayer plan to open later in the summer

- New England Treatment Access (2) which will have its cultivation site in Franklin and dispensaries planned for Brookline and Northampton they plan to open in the fall

- Patriot Care in Lowell

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#6

In Good Health’s president says that their dispensary will open for business in weeks following on the heels of ATG..

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#5

Governor Baker wanted to revamp the medical marijuana licensing process and treat it like any other health care facility.

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#4

Previously, the state set deadlines for applications, then analyzed the entiregroup simultaneously. Now, the process will allow dispensaries to apply for licenses on a rolling basis, and each one will be scored individually.