Medical marijuana ballot question

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - In less than two weeks you'll make your voice heard on election night. And Medical Marijuana in Massachusetts is a hot topic on the ballot.

A ‘yes’ vote on question 3 would allow patients with certain medical conditions to receive marijuana  as a form of treatment. Supporters say suffering patients need it, but critics argue it's just too risky.

Should a suffering patient be allowed to obtain or even grow marijuana as a means to treat their pain? One woman from Ware told 22news after suffering five aneurysms, marijuana is the only thing that eases her nerve damage symptoms and gives her an appetite.

“It kills the pain, the neuropathic pain and it makes me eat a lot of food and I need to because I'm a little underweight. With the brain surgery went smell and taste, forever. Gone,” said Marcella Duda of Ware.

Many patient advocacy groups strongly support the medical use of marijuana, and say the practice would be closely monitored.

“One of the important regulations we've included is strictly limiting the treatment centers to no more than 35 across the state that need to be licensed by the state and regulated by the state,” said Matt Allen, the executive director of Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance.

But not everyone is on board. Many opponents fear widespread abuse.

“I think in today's day and age marijuana is abused way too much and even though it might be being used by some people for the right things it still ends up getting in the wrong hands and causes a lot of problems in today's world,” said Nicole Grant of Chicopee.

The proposed law would allow the patient to appoint a personal caregiver who could assist with the patient's medical use of marijuana. There would be penalties for abuse and fraud:  They'd face up to five years in prison for misusing the patient's registration.