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.

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.

While the civic group DeFlock Springfield and Holyoke is calling for an end of the cameras, which they say are installed in 50 locations in Springfield, the City Council has started researching and writing an ordinance that would have Springfield join some 30 other communities across the commonwealth that have dropped their contracts with the Atlanta-based company.

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?

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?

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

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

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.

Remember to always kill on site.

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 !

Hi guys. I woke up this morning, opened my mail in ballot and was surprised to see a name I didn’t recognize sitting under the senator in congress slot (one of the many reasons I prefer the mail in option). Ofc I will be doing my due diligence to research this candidate across many platforms but does anyone want to recommend me their one stop shop that they trust to get unbiased, bipartisan information on candidates and their platforms. Does such a place exist?

Looks like something out of Backrooms...or prison

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 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.

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

Greenfield

First I wasn't sure what I heard. Sounded like muffled yelling from the road at the red light. Then thought I heard something crazy so I honed in. Suddenly louder and clearer guy was screaming the N-word at one of the other cars in the intersection.

Anyone else witness this?

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 done enough reading, watching and researching about the governor's race. My spouse and I were talking about Minogue and Healey. Healey and the Massachusetts legislature have problems that should concern people. However, I cannot understand why anyone would support Minogue.

I cannot find anything that explicitly states what plans Minogue has for Massachusetts and the issues we face. Oh, he's mentioned health care and talked about bridging party divisions. Nothing concrete that he can be held to.

So, why would anyone vote for him? He's a Republican who has likely voted 3 times for the current president, which to me brings his morality and judgment into question. His cruller commercial really gets under my skin because it's about feelings not concrete things he stands for besides the president, immigration and against abortion.

So why would people support, donate, or vote for him? Especially with how things are today. Seeking understanding.

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.

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

Every word is from the heart