Anyone who wants to delay this waiting for what the state is going to do is a total idiot. "Pending" is the watchword as the pols are waiting for their lobbyists to give them the verbiage they need.

This is still considered to be an illegal substance under Federal law. Sinewitz is totally right -- the "pro-pot lobby" seems very well financed by some very entrepreneurial, scary people who have successfully used "our poor, sick grandmothers" as a way to wedge an unconstitutional move (state attempting to relax something that has stronger federal regulations.

Instead of debating this issue, we should 1) just bad these "clinics" all together in Peabody, and 2) take active steps to rout out those pols who have been accepting donations from these lobbies.

Somewhat more than 54% of Peabody voters cast ballots in favor of Question 3. But the City's Police Chief, Health Director, and the DA join with all but one City Councilor and the Mayor in opposition. Therefore, medical cannabis will be banned to the greatest extent possible in Peabody.

That's democracy in action.

If we were really "rational humans," we would be demanding that the NIH sponsor trials with an inhalation form containing the active components of marijuana that could undergo appropriate safety and efficacy studies. In other words, if Marinol isn't enough, then give our patients something that is, and that we can advise them about other medications they are taking.

Legislating "safe and effective" use of a product by ballot just goes to show how much money is involved here. Marijuana is NOT safe for all patients -- some of its compounds are very highly bound to proteins and can affect metabolism of some very important drugs.

So do you want us to make available something that has no quality standards, no safety and/or efficacy studies, no drug interaction or outcome studies, is a violation of federal law to grow/distribute/use, and tell our fellow citizens, with a straight face, "this is a good thing!"

And in the meantime, when grandma decides that this marijuana pain hype might have something to it and decides to give it a try, and the family finds out later that she was on a blood thinner that interacts with at least two metabolites, will you be there at the funeral to talk about how great your democracy is?

Great job Mayor Bettencourt! Go against what your people voted for. Oh I'm sorry I thought this was a democracy. Can u ban liquor stores and prescription drugs too then? Far more damaging.

I smoked my first joint in December, 1967, at the tender age of 21.

Now, a mere 45 years later, I still smoke pot. I have never 'graduated' to 'harder' drugs.

I am living proof that prohibitionist propaganda is a fallacy...a blatant lie.

The worst experience I had with marijuana was spending 5 years in Federal Prison for a pot offense.

And, I am as harmless as a Beagle puppy.

I wrote about the escapades that led to my 'vacation.' I admit, I had a great time...no one was injured, no one was killed...there were no victims. We were Americans pursuing happiness in our own way...harming no one nor their property.

The book: Shoulda Robbed a Bank

I would be honored by your review. It's available at Amazon.

Yup, the pro-pot bloggers are out.

Fellow Peabody Patchers, we should have a "So You Say You're From Peabody?!?" quiz to smoke check bloggers.

Maybe the Editor could come up with a separate column and we can post the questions.... but not the answers!!!

For example: What was the original location of the Revolutionary War monument located on Washington Street?

In 2009, 26,000 deaths from prescription medicines.

Deaths caused by marijuana...not a single one in recorded history.

Totally false. The Navy recently reminded all aboard that the Zero Tolerance Policy was written with the blood of fourteen sailors who were members of the aircrew of an EA-6B Prowler as well as deck hands. Fourteen aircraft were also damaged in the fiery explosion.

Everybody knows about this incident, and there are many, many others that have been published and are well described in the media.

The 2009 data you cite is from overdoses of legal AND illegal drugs, and published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Again, the bloggers are out...

Saber Walsh....are you a doctor? I am. Not sure where you are getting the "medical" facts about interaction with medication, but you are totally way off base. In fact, all of your "stats" are. What does 14 sailors dying have to do with pot? And the zero tolerance policy? Come on...wake up. Good try though!

If an when if ever pot is legal for medical use then patients should ask or be told by their doctors if it is ok to use and vice versa.. I think that most forget is the interaction of the r/x's the patients take is the answer to their use of the marihuana for relief of their sickness or mental problems.
If you use marihuana now for more than occasional use you may be hiding a thing that could be detrimental to your health when its finally discovered.

I don't see a problem with medical pot. We now have pharmacies where people with a prescription can get the medicine their doctor feels is the right medicine for them - medicines that are not necessarily safe for all patients, but medicines that the doctor feels would be safe for them. The use of medical pot would, and I think should, be treated the same way - if a physician feels that it is the right medicine for his/her patient, than that patient should have access to the drug with a proper prescription.

We have lots of bars and liquor stores in Peabody and anyone 21 or over can get access to this substance, which I feel is a more dangerous substance, and we all know has been the cause of many fatal accidents over the years. But yet, no-one complains about access to this substance.

For the record, I do not smoke pot or drink alcohol. I have tried both, but I really don't like using either substance. (They are not healthy, cost a lot of money, and I don't like how they lower my guard & perception). And I am not a pro-pot blogger, or have been listening to the "pro-pot lobby", nor do I feel I am a "total idiot". I am someone who can think for herself and just so happens to think that if someone in pain can get some relief from smoking pot, who am I to judge.

I am one of the 54% who voted for this law, and the whole purpose of voting is to see what the majority of citizens want to act accordingly. I do not feel it is appropriate to ban medical pot in Peabody.

Peabody gets no benefit, and likely a lot of the problems that would come from this. Banning it is the right move my our elected officials. If they can ban the sale of alcohol in some surrounding communities, we can ban the sale of pot. Just ease on down the road. i'm sure there are other cities who want these pot shops.
Here's some more on how I really feel on this: http://eyeonpeabody.com/2013/01/11/peabody-wont-bogart-those-pot-shops-and-thats-the-right-move-by-our-city-officials/

How's this... Peabody gets no benefit from a methadone clinic either!!! I just bought a house in West Peabody off rt.1 back in September, I was totally clueless to a methadone clinic being so close to my home with my wife and 2 daughters. Now would you prefer a pot dispensary which will help people with chronic pain ect? Or a methadone clinic which is a meet, greet, swap location for current and previous drug addicts? Pot is not processed in a factory it is grown from the dirt. I don't smoke pot myself but I'd rather pot than methadone and all the junkies that come with it where I live. Maybe they will ban it FOR NOW. its inevitable that one day in the near future you will be able to walk into your local corner store and buy it.

This city council and Mayor disgust me. The people voted this into law for a reason. We need more forward thinking leaders in this city, vote out these clowns!

Anyone or thing that attempts to ban pot is operating in fear bred from ignorance, or its for financial gain. Period.

Just for the record about why the Prowler accident was notable... The JAG citation above is absolutely correct and is a good reference for the facts about the crash and the pilot. What's missing is the context: flight deck crew during carrier recovery operations are largely there for safety, and the Prowler was in trouble. When lives are at stake, you need wverything

Just for the record about why the Prowler accident was notable... The JAG citation above is absolutely correct and is a good reference for the facts about the crash and the pilot. What's missing is the context: flight deck crew during carrier recovery operations are largely there for safety, and the Prowler was in trouble. When lives are at stake, you need everything you've got, and the fire caused by the Prowler required just that. Men died that day, many burned to death... so yes, let's cover the facts with misdirection, derision, lies, and what the heck, Grandma stopped giving you cash anyways.

About 40 other communities have banned the sale of pot. As Peabody residents, we also have the right to ban the sale of pot.
I bet many of these pro pot posters are outsiders trying to bring pot shops into Peabody for their own benefit. Beware of sheep in wolves clothing!

@Jane Nothing could be further from the truth. We are Peabody residents, part of the over 50% of voters who agreed with question 3 on the last ballot. Medical marijuana is an idea whose time has come. Let's stop all the fear mongering about something which is basically pretty harmless and also beneficial to cancer sufferers. Signed: Not a pot shop entrepreneur, nor a sheep in wolves clothing, although I can't imagine what that kind of sheep would be trying to accomplish.

@ Jane It is a quality of life issue. People should be able to access the kind of medication deemed best for their illnesses, as determined by their doctors. This will maintain the best quality of life for the seriously ill. More than half of those of us in Peabody who voted in the last election made it clear that A pot shop would be acceptable. It's not likely that there will be one on every street corner like package stores seem to be. There are big revenues to be made by any establishment that sells drugs or alcohol. I don't know what kind of training people would need in order to fill a prescription but perhaps that could be looked into. There are also big tax revenues for the city from these businesses. If a shop were allowed on route 1 it shouldn't negatively impact residential neighborhoods with an excess of traffic.

@ Bob Thanks for the update. I didn't know that. That's too bad, tax revenues are one of the benefits of legalized marijuana. Would the shop be run by a charitable organization? Would there be any property tax at least? This is disappointing news.

No property taxes are collected by a city if a non-profit owns it. Non-profit does not necessarily mean a "charity" in the traditional sense. Anyone can create a non-profit, and there are no real limits on how much the execs for these non-profits can make. All you are basically saying to the government is that you do not have any profits once all the expenses are paid, including salaries.

@Jane & Bob, I did some research into this non-profit issue and the reason they are run as such is because to sell for profit would be considered a drug trafficking offense under Federal law. A non-profit dispensary would be required to have financial transparency and their records must be readily available to law enforcement personnel to prove that they are charging only what is needed to cover costs. It is the perception of law enforcement as it relates to a shop's compliance with state law that dictates whether or not they would be allowed. If any expenses seem inflated, such as wages or salaries, the dispensary could be charged with drug trafficking.

Wages and salaries will of course be subject to all Federal, State and local taxes just like paychecks everywhere. With all this scrutiny directed at these facilities, it seems unlikely that there will be any gouging of prices or stuffing of pockets.

I can't just write off the cancer patients and their pain by saying they can have their medication when the shops are squeeky clean medical establishments. When is that going to happen if we don't even allow them to operate at all? I say, lets get the ball rolling, get the patients their meds, and begin to set standards for dispensaries to look like doctor's offices if that's what we need to feel comfortable about it. Although that might raise the cost of operations and as a result raise the cost of the medication.

@Sylvie, we already have squeaky clean establishments that provide drugs, and they are called pharmacies. The pot should should be provide by a pharmacist, who has had years of medical training, not by some hack running a questionable pot shop on Route 1.

Typical politicians imposing their will instead of following the will of the vast majority of the people who voted. Proves once again that you can't trust any politicians.

@Jim Those of us in Peabody don't want the pot shops! We are not politicians, just normal residents that deserve to have the same quality of life as the other 40 communities that voted against the pot shops in their community. I am tired of outsiders trying to dump their crap on us!

@Jane Those of us in Peabody do want pot shops and the medical marijuana that cancer patients can finally get to ease their suffering. It's why those of us in Peabody voted for it! You don't speak for the majority, no matter how many times you try to claim that you do.

@Sylvie, that vote was to allow communities the opportunity to decide if they want pot shops. Our community has decided that we don't want pot shops. Stop pushing your outsider crap on us! Peabody has the right to have the same quality of life as those other 40 communities that decided to ban pot shops. I love our city! It would be really sad to see our city go the way of pot shops on every corner, as has happened in some places in southern California.
Keep Peabody strong! Peabody Pride!

I'm not sure how Jane came to the conclusion that "our community has decided that we don't want pot shops" or that everyone who is commenting in favor of the law is "pushing your outsider crap". And I'm not sure why Bob and some others are assuming that we didn't understand the question when we voted in favor of it, but for some reason now understand and are now against it. As I stated before, I am one of the 54% of Peabody residents who voted for the law, and I understood that could easily lead to an establishment selling pot (to those with a prescription only) in Peabody, and I still see nothing wrong it (just as I see nothing wrong the pharmacy down the street selling drugs that would be illegal to have without a prescription).

With only 35 shops allowed in the whole state (and no more than 5 in a county), there could not be a "pot shop" on every corner.

And if we don't allow a shop in our city, any patient with a prescription from our City would then be legally able to grow their own supply! Although there are regulations on growing one's own (can't be more than a 60-day supply, has to be locked up), I would think you would prefer a government-regulated facility selling to patients with prescriptions than the possibility of your neighbor growing it next door.

Jane, I have lived in Peabody since 1985. Hardly an outsider. I have talked to quite a few people on this issue and find that it seems to go along with the way we voted: a little more than half were in favor.

I also have great pride in Peabody and I respect our government officials. All the policies have not been put in place yet. And not "any drug dealer" would be able to set up a shop - there are rules and regulations. Medicine is regulated and that will included medical marijuana, and as you know, it will require a prescription.

@Jean, right now there are no regulations. According to the law, anyone can open a pot shop, and that includes drug dealers. Under the law they would be able to sell marijuana laced with anything in these pot shops. What do you say to the cancer patient that ends up with a bad reaction with the laced contents?
There is no requirement on the quality and purity of the pot.
Right now there is also no oversight as to what would happen if they gave pot to someone without a prescription, so basically these pot shops would not be held accountable for giving pot to the general public.
Remember you can't threaten them with losing their medical license because they have none to begin with!
Once one pot shop is allowed, they will push for more in the community, as what happen in southern California. Don't even allow one in.
The marijuana lobby is very well financed, and they play on all of our concerns for the ill.
Don't let the marijuana lobby play on your sympathy. I know first hand of patients successfully handling debilitating pain by using pain medications, such as OxyContin, provided through a pharmacy.
There will be no tax benefit for Peabdy because they have the nonprofit status.
Need I go on as to how we don't need pot shops in Peabody?
Forty other communities have votes against pot shops. We have the right to also vote against pot shops.
Stay Strong Peabody! Peabody Pride!

I copied the below comment from another website. I think the American veteran who wrote this sums it up very well:

"I am a disabled Army Veteran and smoke marijuana strictly for medical purposes. I never smoked before I broke my back in the military and it hasen't been a gateway to anything. I started smoking because of my cauda equina syndrome.
I had a herniated disk in my lower back that compressed the nerves at the lower end of my spine (cauda equina nerves). The doctors couldn't prevent permanent damage, so I am left with permanent pain that is so severe that it leads to vomiting on a consistant basis without my medacine (marijuana). The doctors prescribed me morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, oxycotton, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, etc... All of the above named meda...
cines made me useless, I hardly knew what was happening around me. On top of that, they didnt help with the pain or the vomiting from the pain. I felt like bugs were crawling under my skin.
After complaining about this for a while, friends and family handed me cannabis. I was reluctant at first, due to the stigma that goes along with it. After I gave it a try, I realized that it was far and away a better solution than any of the above named DRUGS. I had none of the issues with cannabis that I had with all those other PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS. I can function and carry on with my life. Marijuana has made me a better person and a far more functional parent and husband."