Ballot Question

House reneged on pot agreement, say sources

Drugs/ Politics

House reneged on pot agreement, say sources

Officials say chair irked over Lottery move

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HOUSE LEADERS ABRUPTLY walked away from an agreement between Gov. Charlie Baker, Speaker Robert DeLeo, and Senate President Stan Rosenberg that would have kept oversight of the emerging legal pot industry with the state treasurer and sources indicated it may be connected to anger from the House chair of the marijuana committee over a potential(...)

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Sources: Higher tax, new opt-out in pot bill

Drugs/ Economy/ Politics

Sources: Higher tax, new opt-out in pot bill

House measure would keep treasurer in charge but expand oversight board

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STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE RETAIL MARIJUANA SALES would be taxed at a maximum rate of 18.75 percent under legislation being developed by the House in preparation for a Thursday vote that would also alter the oversight and local control of an industry legalized by voters last November, according to sources within the Legislature or close(...)

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House to roll out rewrite of legal pot bill

Drugs/ Economy/ Politics

House to roll out rewrite of legal pot bill

Reps set to vote on changing ballot question on Thursday; Senate plans unclear

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STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE HOUSE LEADERSHIP WILL unveil its proposal to overhaul the voter-backed law legalizing marijuana in Massachusetts on Wednesday, setting up an expected debate and vote before the full membership on Thursday. The bill’s details have been held tightly by those writing the legislation, but it is widely expected to address the tax(...)

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Pot panel looks to let ex-cons in

Drugs/ Politics

Pot panel looks to let ex-cons in

Lawmakers open to allowing nonviolent drug offenders sell and grow legal marijuana

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THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE shaping the state’s new marijuana law wrapped up its final session of hearings Monday with an impassioned plea from a convicted drug felon to change the laws to allow him to grow and distribute marijuana to legal sellers. “What I did was a mistake,” said Sean Berte of Boston, who said he(...)

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For marijuana law, now the ‘Grown-Up’s Hour’

Drugs/ Politics/ Opinion

For marijuana law, now the ‘Grown-Up’s Hour’

State has long history of applying legislative fixes to ballot questions

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MANY OF US have listened to Longfellow’s poem that reminds us that there “Comes a pause in the day’s occupations, that is known as the Children’s Hour.” Now that democracy has worked its magic in Massachusetts with the legalization of recreational use of marijuana, I suggest it is time for the Grown-Up’s Hour when it(...)

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After charter defeat, Baker looks to close achievement gap

Education

After charter defeat, Baker looks to close achievement gap

Governor mulls options to level performance between black and white students

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STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE REJECTED BY THE voters in his bid for an expansion of charter school access, Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday he will explore other means of reducing the gap between the achievement levels of white students and students of color. Speaking to reporters a day after Question 2 went down, with 37.8(...)

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Pot proponents hit critics on ‘scare tactics’

Drugs

Pot proponents hit critics on ‘scare tactics’

Say officials are spreading falsehoods to defeat legalization measure

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A LAWYER WHO helped draft the initiative to legalize adult recreational use of marijuana said critics of the referendum are using decades-old scare tactics to defeat the proposal and twisting proponents’ words to convince voters there’s a heartless pot industry that only wants to cash in at the expense of kids. “This whole idea that(...)

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The Download

Outsider’s perspective on pot legalization

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When you’re struggling with a decision, sometimes it’s helpful to get an outsider’s perspective. The CBS news magazine 60 Minutes on Sunday reported on marijuana legalization, which is on the ballot this year in California, Massachusetts, Maine, Arizona, and Nevada. If legalization passes in all five states, nearly a quarter of the nation’s residents will(...)

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Charter showdown

Education/ Fall 2016

Charter showdown

A charter school leader and teachers union president debate the ballot question

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IN NOVEMBER, MASSACHUSETTS voters will have their say on a ballot question that would allow up to 12 new or expanded charter schools each year above the existing state cap on the independently-run, but publicly-funded, schools. The issue has inflamed passions on both sides. We asked two prominent Boston education leaders, Jon Clark, co-director of(...)

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