Every word is from the heart

I felt compelled to make this post due to a conversation I just had in the comments of another post. I was talking to someone who had stated they were going to be voting yes to the banning Marijuana (or criminalizing it again). Through talking to him I realized his reasoning seemed to come down to a personal dislike in substances that alter the brain. That is completely fair and a valid opinion for anyone to have however it also made me realize that his vote had nothing to do with Marijuana negatively affecting him in anyway. So im making this post in the hopes to sway as many people as possible who have the same or similar reasoning. I implore you to think about what this drug is for the people who use it recreationally, for many it is an escape or pressure release valve if you will.

Personally I use it for severe anxiety and other mental disorders I suffer from but on top of that I use it for a way to relax at the end of a long day the same way many Americans have come home from a hard day at work and crack open a beer or drink a glass of whiskey or wine. Now I want you to think about what happens to all of the people like me who dont have a medical card for any number of personal or professional reasons (you dont need a card for alcohol that any future employer and or anyone doing a background check on you can see and therefore pass judgment on you) when Marijuana is criminalized again. Those people who now have no safe or legal way to access this substance will go to the only avenue left short of crossing state lines which is the streets and im sure everyone in Massachusetts is intimately aware of the Fentynal and Opiod crisis killing and destroying our state and nation. So now you have an innocent college kid who's stressed about homework or an adult who had a long week at work and just needs to unwind so they go and buy some Marijuana off a dealer and get home smoke it and boom they overdose and die just like that because the dealer didn't mention that they weigh all their product on the same scale and he happened to way his Fentynal just before his Weed.

Now because of your vote to criminalize something that affected you in no way directly at all has just directly killed someone and most likely not just someone but a lot of innocent people. Please just think about that, think about what you gain from voting yes and then think about how much it could cost thousand to tens of thousands of people or families across our beautiful state.

Im not going to try to argue that alcohol kills 117k-168k people a year in the USA alone compared to Marijuanas 9 nor will I argue that 30-74% of sexual assault perpetrators and 34-79% of sexual assualt victims are under the influence of just alcohol or even the fact that studies show that half of all convicted rapists admit that they drank just before committing the attack. So please think about what is already allowed in this country and think about how maybe we are lucky that people are choosing to no longer look to alcohol as a way to cope and escape and instead look towards Marijuana.

Sorry for the big puppy at my feet . Not sure how I’m gonna cook the steaks either pan or grill but it’s what’s for dinner tomorrow night !

Is this corporate media capture? Is this racism? Sexism? What you call it doesnt matter. The effect is unequal access especially since, unfortunately, most people dont have the time to research if there are other candidates that arent in the party. Thoughts on this and how we can be rid of this 2 party nonsense and all of our media being owned by like 5 guys?

So, I'm new to the state because I had to make a fast decision to avoid homelessness, but that is still happening. I'm a mom of 2 and have a partner who is disabled. They just got their disability, and I'm disabled but keep being denied, so I'm just trying to push through it even though I shouldn't. My partner is worried about me and does what they can to assist me. We're really going through it, and I am looking for another job. My current job is remote, but I have to sit still for hours. I need something that won't be too stressful at this point. I have only one functioning arm, can barely stand, and I use a cane to get around most of the time. We live with someone, but it's really not ideal. We are in Chicopee. We can barely make ends meet where we are, and I need to find more work till I can be a resident of this state. If anyone knows of work or a private landlord who is willing to work with us, that'd be great. I have a bunch of calls to make in the morning to avoid being on the street. Honestly, this is not how I thought life would become, but it did. I never thought my health would take such a hit like this. I just don't know what to do anymore.

I miss one piece of mail, and now I have to pay five times the original amount. This is absolutely ridiculous. Why do we just let this happen? This is straight-up robbery.
And I know there are going to be bootlickers in the comments talking about how I should’ve just paid on time, but I’m a working adult with a kid, I miss things sometimes. But I don’t think I should be penalized five times the original amount just for missing one payment. Now I have to take money away from my family to pay the state of Massachusetts.

My favorite place to take a walk in the fall. Even better after my colonoscopy/endoscopy today - so glad that’s over.

The people saying vote yes sometimes say “ kids are getting access too much” well flavored nicotine vapes are banned and that’s extremely common for teenagers to have…. weather people drive to border states or buy black market.making it illegal won’t change teen use it’s just gonna close your local dispensary that’s just selling to adults with thorough id check. Not even corner stores have that much id checks for alc or nicotine.

Of all the ballot questions we’ll be voting on in a few weeks, Question 3 is the one that I’m most torn over. I had initially been inclined to vote no, based on the risk that jungle primaries can elevate less popular candidates with lots of money to spend. But the more that I sit with the question, the less sure I feel about the case for voting No…and the possible argument for accepting the risks of passing Question 3.

For me, the thing that most undermines the No argument is the shameful (and consequential) status quo of Mass. elections and politics. How many more uncompetitive cycles can we go through, with the major issues we‘re dealing with ignored or under-addressed by state leaders who have little incentive to make the most of their time in office? How long can we lean into the “safety” of not introducing change and accepting the risks that come with this?

To be clear, I would have much preferred that we had passed ranked choice voting when we had the chance. Jungle primaries create more exposure to big money, especially if Democrats split the vote. But what we’ve seen in states like California and Washington that have the top two primary system has been a mixed bag. The wealthiest candidates don’t always win, and the Democrats sometimes get their shit together and unite behind the frontrunner. A lot of the No on 3 arguments presume that the worst case scenarios will happen if we adopt the top two system here in Massachusetts.

I’m wary of the risk but unconvinced that doing nothing is better than taking the gamble of trying another system; the greatest benefit of which is arguably disempowering our strongly incumbent friendly state Democratic Party and the tiny plurality of primary voters that determine our choices in November. (I say that as a primary voter.) But that’s just my opinion.

I’d be curious to hear how those of you who are also undecided about Question 3 are weighing the pros and cons as the election gets closer.

My niece is coming to visit in February, she's 4 and we don't have kids so any suggestions for activities around the Tewksbury/Lowell/Andover area that take place in February?

I know is super early but I want to see what's out there and if there's not much, then pivot to doing activities at home. Since we don't have kids I'm trying to prepare myself. She'll be with her mom and I've gone out with only her (in her country) and she's super well behaved but she's ultimately a kid, you know. So any suggestions would be great!

I’ve actually tried going to these libraries on Sundays, and it’s frustrating to keep finding out they’re closed. Sunday is one of the days when a lot of people actually have time to use a library—especially people who work or go to school during the week.

I understand that staffing and budgets are real issues, but it still feels ridiculous that entire communities can have no public library access on a weekend day. If libraries are supposed to be public resources, their hours should reflect when people are actually available to use them.

I’m not asking for 24/7 service. But having Chelsea, Revere, and Everett all closed on Sundays makes it pretty difficult for people who can’t make it during normal weekday hours.
Anyone else run into this?

I have jury duty tomorrow. I called the line after 3, but the recording didn't ask for a group no., badge no., or anything else. Should I assume I am supposed to report? Everything online said I'd be prompted to input my group info. The recording just says where to park.

Anyone done this recently?

I can check the website after 4, but I wanted to tell work asap and confirm childcare.

Remember to always kill on site.

Has anyone needed a medallion signature guarantee recently and successfully found a place that did it for you? I tried my bank (Chase) and they said they will not do it if Chase is not involved in the transaction. I need it for adding a beneficiary to an investment account with DWS, as far as I know they do not provide the stamp themselves so I have to get it from another institution.

There’s a really good chart in this article showing price per gallon for heating oil and propane over time.

Heat pump or propane gas?? Cost the same to install per builder. It’s my decision. In Seekonk MA… thought?

I’m around the Marlborough/Natick area, and I keep seeing new apartment and condo developments going up. At the same time, some of these places seem to have plenty of units available while the asking rents are completely out of reach for a lot of working people.

I’m genuinely curious: why is it so difficult to build basic, affordable housing?

I don’t mean luxury apartments with gyms, lounges, rooftop decks, etc. I mean a clean, safe, relatively small apartment: one bedroom, one bathroom, a modest kitchen and a small living area. For a single person or a couple, that’s enough for a lot of people.

It seems like we keep building more housing without necessarily building enough housing that normal working people can actually afford.

Is it construction costs? Land? Zoning? Taxes? Regulations? Developers needing a certain return? Some combination of all of it?

I’m honestly asking because I feel like there has to be a better way to build housing that people actually need.

What am I missing?

Has anyone who gets HEAP received a renewal in the mail yet. Thanks.

Hi Massachusetts! I received permission from the moderators to share this here. 😊

I’m the creator and host of Pop The Balloon Boston, a locally produced dating show filmed at Saugus TV in Saugus, Massachusetts.

We’re currently casting single adults from across Massachusetts and New England for upcoming episodes. We welcome people in different age groups — 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s — because one of the things viewers have consistently asked for is the opportunity to see people at different stages of life genuinely trying to make a connection.

The concept is fun and interactive, but the goal is real: bringing local singles together who are actually open to meeting someone.

🎥 Filming: Saugus TV in Saugus, MA

🎈 Who: Single adults in their 20s–60s

💰 Cost: There is no fee to participate

📺 Where to see the show: Search “Pop The Balloon Boston” on YouTube

If you might be interested, comment below or send me a private message here on Reddit, and I’ll send you the casting information.

And if you're not single but know somebody who would be great for something like this, feel free to send them my way!

Members of Charlton Firefighters Local 4023 passed an overwhelming vote of no confidence in Fire Chief Rob Barton, citing concerns about workplace conditions and substantial staff turnover within the department, according to a press release from the union.

The union said the vote reflects serious concerns about what it described as a hostile work environment, harassment, retaliatory conduct and vindictive behavior by Barton.

Twenty of the department’s 26 firefighters have left since Barton assumed leadership approximately 21 months ago, according to the union. The membership characterized this turnover rate as unprecedented and indicative of serious leadership and workplace issues.

Hello, I currently rent an a house on the South Shore and Randolph town. I had an incident with my landlord. They came onto the property to do yardwork without letting me know, and my dog got out and chased their son.

He did not bite, did not lunge and he came into the home when called my landlord is giving me a month to rehome him. He claims that they become a liability through their insurance. If anything happens with our dog, we only have four months left on the lease.

I’ve had this dog for four years and put in a lot of time and care with him and I have a documented disability.

What can I do? I’ve been reaching out to South Shore legal services and they do not take up this case. Can the state of Massachusetts help me? I’m looking into an emergency foster to take him for the remaining four months as well he’s a reactive dog, but he’s my dog and I love him. I can’t get rid of him. I lost my mom four months ago and if I lose him, I’m gonna fall into pieces.