Wednesday, June 22, 2016

An Interesting Question


The one question I would love someone to ask our half-dozen candidates for Ellen Story's 3rd Hampshire District state rep seat is how they plan to vote on the recreational marijuana ballot question this coming November?

3rd Hampshire District candidates debate last night

Interestingly at Monday night's Select Board hearing on the 4th request for a medical marijuana dispensary "Letter of Support", which took FOREVER, Happy Valley freely admitted they would love to pursue that market demographic.

But they were quick to point out their business plan showed they would be quite profitable with just the medical market (estimated at $10 million) as long as the Select Board issued them a Letter of Support like they did the other three.

Having made an effort to cover APD weekend arrests for drunk driving and OUI/drugs I have watched hundreds of arraignments and plea deals.

By far the main weapon used as evidence by the Commonwealth -- which borders on infallible -- to bring perps to a quick settlement (Ch24D deal) is the Breathalyzer Test for blood alcohol levels.

And thus far, there's no simple reliable such equivalent for marijuana.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am curious; what is your position on recreational marijuana, Larry?

Larry Kelley said...

I find pot a LOT less problematic than alcohol.

My only concern is driving under the influence. And as long as the state figures out a reliable test for that, I'm happy to see it legalized and taxed.

Larry Kelley said...

And I approved that message.

Anonymous said...

Te problem with OUI is perceptipn & reflexes, the very things that pot affects MOST. And as pot (THC) is fat-soluible while ETOH is water-soluible, it stays in the body, affecting reflexes & perception, for a week.

Any level is about a 0.8 BAC in this regard.

Granted you have less fistfights with stoners, but fistfights isn't why ETOH/OUI is illegal.

Anonymous said...

i love pot. if i could get stoned constantly, i would. i don't even care if my brain turns to mush, it's that alluring.

that is why i hope it is not legalized.

Anonymous said...

You be sure to bring that up in your job interview!

Anonymous said...

Haha. Maybe I should apply at one of the new dispensaries!

Anonymous said...

What about your gunked-up lungs?

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:46 lacks credibility. ....very old tactic on any issue.

Anonymous said...

Are there enough people in Amherst with a medical need for marijuana to buy up $10 million a year? Really? Are that many people walking around in agony untreated?

Anonymous said...

5:01pm - no, it's not a tactic. really, I am addicted to pot, basically. if it's available, I have a very hard time not doing it. there are many like me. if i can go to the 'spirit haus of pot,' i will be stoned constantly. i don't advocate for a nanny state, but...

Anonymous said...

don't forget that Hadley is dealing wtih a pothouse at the Sunoco station not very far away on Rt. 9. So that is five in close proximity. Don't tell me that the November election question isn't on their front burner.

Anonymous said...

Assume 10M in "medical: pot -- where is that money going to come from?

Crime......

Anonymous said...

I have never used marijuana. Hope to never have the need. But when used responsibly as an alternative to opioids or anxiety meds, I've actually come around. It's just the "stoners" that give me pause and the morons who use and drive. Hate to think of my kids sharing the road with this idiots who abuse a great alternative medicine.

For the record, smoking as the delivery method I disagree with, increases health care costs and has serious personal health impacts similar to cigarettes.

Dr. Ed said...


The Opiods, used instead of abused, are safe & effective even at high doses.

This is proven -- but there are no double-blind studies for pot.

Anonymous said...

Why do you want to change your personality? What it is you don't like about yourself that you have to alter your way of thinking, acting, feeling? Pretty sad state of affairs when people have to be 'stoned' all day just to live with themselves. And I hope recreational marijuana never gets legalized--As a former smoker of the stuff--I wouldn't want to be on the road with a stonehead either! yikes!!!