In Massachusetts, legal cannabis for the holidays

It's now official: weed is legal in Massachusetts. Anyone over the age of majority can now possess, produce or purchase cannabis with complete peace of mind.

The cannabis which has been banned in the state since 1911, can now be sold on the streets of Boston. Massachusetts has changed its cannabis laws just like the others American states that have already taken the plunge. In 2008, voters chose to decriminalize cannabis. Criminal sanctions were then transformed into financial penalties for minor offences. In 2012, the public authorized the distribution of medical cannabis, then finished the job. by fully legalizing it in 2016. One hundred and five years of prohibition swept away in three elections.

However, not everyone is happy about the arrival of this plant on specialist shelves. The vote in favor of legalization garnered 1.8 million votes, while the vote against totaled 1.5 million. Those against include many doctors, politicians and a large part of the Catholic Church.

Courses for police officers

Police officers in the state of Massachusetts will be trained to differentiate between dealers and consumers. This will require a great deal of precision, since simple consumers will be able to carry up to 28 grams on their person and 280g in their home. Small plantations will have to be monitored to ensure that they do not exceed the limit of 12 feet per household. «Small quantities of cannabis are no longer considered contraband,» says Daniel Benett of Health Department.

The internet tracking will also be de rigueur, with individuals taking advantage of legalization to retail their production or legal purchases at an extra margin. Consumption in public places is not authorized, and the local government has yet to set a THC limit for driving.

Authorities are giving themselves until January 1, 2018 to set up cannabis distribution networks. As a result, dealers are experiencing their last year as weed suppliers. While the black market will still be present after the stores arrive, the illegal dealers will have to lower prices to remain competitive. On the other hand, customers can relax, as they can now buy weed in small quantities from dealers in complete legality.

However, police officers in Colorado are urging their colleagues on the East Coast to be well prepared for legalization. «Legalization brings a steady stream of fraudsters and irregularities. Don't repeat our mistakes; we need to be as thorough as possible.»

Théo Caillart