Massachusetts voters approve of new law allowing marijuana for medicinal purposes
Voters in Massachusetts approved a law Tuesday allowing people to use marijuana for medicinal purposes, NBC News projected.
It’s one of six states in which voters are being asked to decide on a wide array of laws around legalizing marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes. Colorado, Oregon and Washington are three states voting to allow anyone over 21 to use marijuana for any purpose – regulate it like alcohol.
The laws legalizing marijuana for recreational or other purposes could face federal challenges, because marijuana possession is still a federal crime.
The Justice Department has declined to discuss how it might react if the laws pass.
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia already have laws allowing for the medical use of marijuana, according to the National Council of Legislatures.
Proponents say it’s about time pot was made legal and that it would create new avenues of tax revenue.
Opponents say legalization would lead to more drug abuse and concerns about things like driving while impaired.
photo Bart Everson Armstrong Legalize Marijuana
