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Summary of Question 3
This proposed law would eliminate state criminal and civil penalties for the medical use of marijuana by qualifying patients. To qualify, a patient must have been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition, such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV-positive status or AIDS, hepatitis C, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, ALS, or multiple sclerosis. The patient would also have to obtain a written certification, from a physician with whom the patient has a bona fide physician-patient relationship, that the patient has a specific debilitating medical condition and would likely obtain a net benefit from medical use of marijuana. The proposed law would allow patients to possess up to a 60-day supply of marijuana for their personal medical use. The state Department of Public Health (DPH) would decide what amount would be a 60-day supply. A patient could designate a personal caregiver, at least 21 years old, who could assist with the patient's medical use of marijuana but would be prohibited from consuming that marijuana. Patients and caregivers would have to register with DPH by submitting the physician's certification. The proposed law would allow for non-profit medical marijuana treatment centers to grow, process and provide marijuana to patients or their caregivers. A treatment center would have to apply for a DPH registration by (1) paying a fee to offset DPH's administrative costs; (2) identifying its location and one additional location, if any, where marijuana would be grown; and (3) submitting operating procedures, consistent with rules to be issued by DPH, including cultivation and storage of marijuana only in enclosed, locked facilities. A treatment center's personnel would have to register with DPH before working or volunteering at the center, be at least 21 years old, and have no felony drug convictions. In 2013, there could be no more than 35 treatment centers, with at least one but not more than five centers in each county. In later years, DPH could modify the number of centers. The proposed law would require DPH to issue a cultivation registration to a qualifying patient whose access to a treatment center is limited by financial hardship, physical inability to access reasonable transportation, or distance. This would allow the patient or caregiver to grow only enough plants, in a closed, locked facility, for a 60-day supply of marijuana for the patient's own use. DPH could revoke any registration for a willful violation of the proposed law. Fraudulent use of a DPH registration could be punished by up to six months in a house of correction or a fine of up to $500, and fraudulent use of a registration for the sale, distribution, or trafficking of marijuana for non-medical use for profit could be punished by up to five years in state prison or by two and one-half years in a house of correction. The proposed law would (1) not give immunity under federal law or obstruct federal enforcement of federal law; (2) not supersede Massachusetts laws prohibiting possession, cultivation, or sale of marijuana for nonmedical purposes; (3) not allow the operation of a motor vehicle, boat, or aircraft while under the influence of marijuana; (4) not require any health insurer or government entity to reimburse for the costs of the medical use of marijuana; (5) not require any health care professional to authorize the medical use of marijuana; (6) not require any accommodation of the medical use of marijuana in any workplace, school bus or grounds, youth center, or correctional facility; and (7) not require any accommodation of smoking marijuana in any public place. The proposed law would take effect January 1, 2013, and states that if any of its part were declared invalid, the other parts would stay in effect.

2012 - Worcester County - Question 3Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives on or before May 1, 2012?

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Worcester County Results
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City/Town Ward Pct Blanks Total Votes Cast
Totals
219,796
137,258
13,814 370,868
Ashburnham
 
2,069
1,057
128
3,254
Athol More »
 
2,817
1,789
164
4,770
Auburn More »
 
5,146
3,367
359
8,872
Barre More »
 
1,714
932
62
2,708
Berlin
 
1,133
623
58
1,814
Blackstone More »
 
2,721
1,468
155
4,344
Bolton
 
1,908
1,125
53
3,086
Boylston
 
1,635
985
73
2,693
Brookfield
 
1,032
642
69
1,743
Charlton More »
 
4,040
2,490
216
6,746
Clinton More »
 
3,972
2,285
309
6,566
Douglas More »
 
2,898
1,531
115
4,544
Dudley More »
 
3,056
1,893
169
5,118
E. Brookfield
 
649
478
30
1,157
Fitchburg More »
 
8,556
5,530
467
14,553
Gardner More »
 
4,779
3,142
358
8,279
Grafton More »
 
5,554
3,763
213
9,530
Hardwick
 
832
467
23
1,322
Harvard
 
2,392
1,114
136
3,642
Holden More »
 
6,299
3,970
340
10,609
Hopedale
 
2,027
1,177
110
3,314
Hubbardston
 
1,616
884
131
2,631
Lancaster More »
 
2,198
1,427
118
3,743
Leicester More »
 
3,297
2,096
202
5,595
Leominster More »
 
10,512
7,302
959
18,773
Lunenburg More »
 
3,630
2,120
198
5,948
Mendon
 
2,116
1,235
87
3,438
Milford More »
 
7,520
4,830
601
12,951
Millbury More »
 
4,039
2,542
246
6,827
Millville
 
994
505
66
1,565
New Braintree
 
343
196
21
560
N. Brookfield
 
1,447
885
54
2,386
Northborough More »
 
4,977
3,166
367
8,510
Northbridge More »
 
4,457
3,000
272
7,729
Oakham
 
727
389
36
1,152
Oxford More »
 
4,034
2,346
163
6,543
Paxton
 
1,508
995
57
2,560
Petersham
 
537
252
33
822
Phillipston
 
608
316
31
955
Princeton
 
1,504
762
64
2,330
Royalston More »
 
453
205
20
678
Rutland More »
 
2,779
1,610
126
4,515
Shrewsbury More »
 
10,286
7,170
798
18,254
Southborough More »
 
3,577
2,101
189
5,867
Southbridge More »
 
3,833
2,658
242
6,733
Spencer More »
 
3,326
2,075
174
5,575
Sterling More »
 
2,877
1,813
153
4,843
Sturbridge More »
 
3,169
1,992
137
5,298
Sutton More »
 
3,217
2,003
182
5,402
Templeton More »
 
2,192
1,504
118
3,814
Upton More »
 
2,683
1,474
85
4,242
Uxbridge More »
 
4,329
2,659
234
7,222
Warren More »
 
1,383
817
128
2,328
Webster More »
 
3,968
2,515
279
6,762
W. Boylston More »
 
2,397
1,674
144
4,215
W. Brookfield
 
1,183
731
48
1,962
Westborough More »
 
5,369
3,347
541
9,257
Westminster More »
 
2,550
1,581
179
4,310
Winchendon More »
 
2,309
1,708
184
4,201
Worcester More »
 
36,623
22,545
2,540
61,708
County Totals
219,796
137,258
13,814 370,868