The MMS wishes to be recorded in support of the following
amendments to Senate Bill S.2090, An Act Text of the Senate amendment to the
House Bill to ensure the public health and safety of patient and consumer
access to medical and adult use of marijuana in the Commonwealth (Senator
Jehlen)
Amendment #9
Child and adolescent
substance use prevention. (Flanagan)
This amendment would require the Department of Public Health
(DPH) to expend 3-percent of all monies received in this fund for evidence
based and evidence informed child and adolescent substance use prevention and
early intervention services.
Amendment #16
Substance use
prevention and treatment (Flanagan)
This amendment would require DPG to spend not less than
$30,000,000 annually on substance abuse prevention and treatment programs.
Amendment # 47
Packaging of
marijuana and marijuana products (Lewis)
This amendment would require packaging to also be opaque,
child-resistant and re-sealable, and prohibit knock-offs of existing products
Amendment #52
Labeling of marijuana
and marijuana products (Lewis)
This amendment adds warnings about bringing marijuana across
state lines to the packaging; and clarify that THC labeling must represent both
absolute quantities as well as the percentage THC by volume.
Amendment #54
Advertising,
marketing and branding (Lewis)
This amendment would strengthen marketing and advertising
restrictions, including:
o no more than an
audience of 15% youth, with burden of proof on the industry; and
o prohibition on
advertisements that: are appealing to youth, including any use of cartoons or
similar images, and describe the
products as safe or healthful
o prohibit pop-up
internet advertising
o must verify that
internet visitors are 21 years of age
o prohibit
give-aways, coupons, price discounting, and other similar promotional
activities
o advertising must
include a DPH-developed health warning
o the CCC may draft
further rules with restrictions around celebrity endorsements and other
restrictions
Amendment #58
Commission review of
marijuana products (Lewis)
This amendment would require the Cannabis Control Commission
is to review and approve new edible products before they are sold, including
packaging, labeling, and marketing of the product, to ensure they are not
especially appealing to minors
Amendment #60
Use of revenue from
marijuana taxation (Lewis)
This amendment would allocate at least the following
proportion of tax revenues beyond program administration to the following:
o 20% for DPH education and prevention grants;
o 10% for EOPSS to
support public safety training;
o 10% for the
Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund;
o 20% for workforce
development, restorative justice, jail diversion, or alternative education in
disproportionately impacted communities
Amendment # 100
Labeling (O'Connor
Ives)
This amendment would prohibit marijuana products from being
called “candy” and require products to be clearly marked with “hazardous to
children” labels.
Amendment #111
Increased Penalties
for Violations Relative to Persons Under 21 (Keenan)
This amendment would impose tiered penalties for violations
of regulations that are intended to prevent the targeting of persons under 21
years of age,”
While the Society continues to oppose the legalization of
recreational marijuana, as being detrimental to public health, the physician
membership formally endorsed policy underscoring the importance of remaining
engaged in discussions with policymakers to advocate for policies that will
protect the health of the public.
In crafting this new policy, the Medical Society identified
priorities to help guide an evidence-based approach to amending the new law to
best mitigate the deleterious impacts that the legalization of marijuana may
have on Massachusetts. These priorities include: preventing youth access to
marijuana, directing funding to conduct research on the health effects of
recreational marijuana, mitigating the risks of marijuana-impaired drivers,
promoting education about the health effects of recreational marijuana, and
setting safety and quality standards for marijuana products.
These amendments are
consistent with MMS policy and, if adopted, will help ensure that the
recreational marijuana law is implemented in a way that limits the harmful
effects on the health of the people of Massachusetts.
