The legalization of marijuana has been a very sensitive issue for quite some time now. Recent reports said the proposals are being projected in the 2016 ballot to make marijuana become officially legal in the country.
There are already numerous discussions about marijuana in the past, but none of them really has concluded up to now. Still, the legalization of the use of this plant is like an unending public discourse in the United States.
Hence, the Secretary of State William F. Galvin claimed that the proposed law as well as the five other proposals for the legalization of marijuana gained 64,750 petition signatures, as per Boston Globe. Also, there are some measures included in the proposals that tackle about the proscription of the sale of eggs that are not cage-free, more charter schools, and Common Core education standards in Massachusetts.
These proposals were already sent to the Legislature, which have until May of 2016 to be acted upon. In case the proposed law is not accepted, then the petitioners simply need to collect 10,792 signatures more to put their question on the ballot.
Furthermore, the Secretary of State has forwarded an amendment about the marijuana legalization to the state constitution. This proposed amendment would require a millionaire's tax, an additional four percent tax on income of more than $1 million, for both public education and transportation projects. Before this amendment can appear on the 2018 state ballot, it should get the approval of 25 percent of the legislators in each of the two joint sessions of the Legislature.
On the whole, the legalization of marijuana has still a long way to endure. Since not everyone agrees to this matter, it will be difficult for it to become a law. Nonetheless, tons of comprehensive research and studies should still be conducted in order to prove the good health effects of marijuana to people.
