Resolution Regarding Legalization of Marijuana

Sponsored by Board of Directors

Whereas, Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap on April 28, 2015 approved a referendum question entitled, An Act to Legalize Marijuana to be considered by Maine voters on November 8, 2016;

Whereas, this question is important to the health of Mainers, particularly children, to the public health of Maine, and to the economy of Maine;

Whereas, Maine voters approved the so-called medical use of marijuana by referendum in 1999 and modified that law by referendum in 2009;

Whereas, marijuana has been decriminalized in Maine;

Whereas, MMA conducted a member survey in May and June of 2016 about marijuana legalization in which more than 700 physicians participated;

Whereas, 67% of survey respondents said that MMA should take a position on this referendum question while 23% said that MMA should not;

Whereas, 56% of survey respondents said that, regardless of their answer to the question above, if MMA were to take a position on this referendum question that MMA should oppose the question while 31% said that MMA should support the question;

Whereas, the Maine Public Health Association (MPHA), of which MMA is a member, opposed legalization of marijuana because of adverse health and public health effects during the 127^th Maine Legislature;

Whereas, the MMA Board of Directors has reviewed the MPHA statement of opposition, the American Medical Association’s (AMA’s) policy statements on marijuana, and reports of experience in other states that have legalized marijuana; and

Whereas, the MMA Board of Directors has given careful consideration to member input and what is known to us of the health and public health effects of marijuana;

Now therefore, be it

Resolved:  that the Maine Medical Association opposes the referendum question entitled, An Act to Legalize Marijuana asking Maine voters to approve the proposed Title 7 M.R.S.A. Chapter 417, the Marijuana Legalization Act.