A Lot of Money for a “Little Weed”

The Boston Globe reported this morning that the cost of implementing the newly passed recreational marijuana law will be close to $30 million marijuana-plantin in its first year!  Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago we were all being inundated with campaign ads telling us how much tax revenue marijuana sales were going to bring in to the state to help fund our schools?  Now we’re learning that local legislators are looking at dipping into the state’s emergency funds to pay for regulating the newly legalized drug.  Sadly, this is not a surprise.  Our Commonwealth may have to learn the hard way that recreational drug use, like the crime it used to be, does not pay.  In Colorado, which legalized marijuana in a 2012 ballot initiative, the social and economic costs continue to vastly outweigh the limited tax revenue from marijuana sales.

But the battle is not over.  We will continue to work with the broad coalition that opposed the marijuana ballot question to educate and empower local communities on how they can prevent pot shops from taking root within their city limits.  On the national level, we should not forget that marijuana is still a controlled substance under federal law.  There is some discussion already about whether a new attorney general such as Sen. Jeff Sessions, might enforce federal anti-drug law in states like Colorado and Massachusetts.  Pot shops may be legal under state law, but they are still criminal drug dealers under federal law.  This could shut down the local pot industry before it even got off the ground.  We will keep you posted.

Share:

More Posts

MA Parents Sound the Alarm, Nation Takes Notice

Back in February, we told you about two new tools parents could use to push back against indoctrination and protect girls’ sports and spaces in Massachusetts public schools. Many concerned Bay State parents have already used the Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center’s Title IX Complaint Template and the Department of Education’s End

The Fight Isn’t Over: Burlington Survey Controversy Grows

Last week, we reported that Burlington Public Schools gave a sexually explicit survey to middle and high school students, including some as young as 6th grade. Even more troubling, several students whose parents had explicitly opted them out were still forced to take it. The survey included graphic content, asking questions

Massachusetts Lawmakers Dodge Vote to Protect Girls’ Sports

On Wednesday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives quietly passed a supplemental budget bill containing a common-sense provision to protect girls’ sports, but instead of standing on principle, lawmakers used a procedural sleight of hand to dodge the issue and avoid going on record. The provision, filed by Rep. John Gaskey, states that no

Spring Sports Are Back—So Is the DEI Pledge. Here’s What to Do.

With the spring sports season now in full swing, many Massachusetts parents are discovering that, despite recent efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, their children’s schools are still requiring athletes to sign a DEI pledge. Unfortunately, this isn’t a new issue. Back in late 2021, the Massachusetts Interscholastic