Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, said Tuesday that he will be looking for additional revenues from the marijuana industry to not only pay for the costs generated by the industry itself but also for a new fund to address substance abuse recovery.
"We have a rare opportunity to deploy a new tactic to fight what has become the fastest growing killer of young adults and other Massachusetts residents," DeLeo said in a speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, according to a copy of his prepared remarks. "Aided by the state proceeds of marijuana, we will create the Substance Addiction Fund dedicated to addiction and recovery efforts."
In his morning speech to Boston area business leaders, at a forum often used by politicians to lay out significant policy proposals, DeLeo talked about the uncertainty created by President Donald J. Trump's administration in Washington and the role of the state House in protecting Massachusetts residents. He discussed potential changes to the state's marijuana law, which voters passed on the ballot in November. He also pledged to support an act requiring employers to offer reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers.
"In this time of national uncertainty, the House will not waver from the principles of collaboration that have made us a national leader in so many regards," DeLeo said.
The new marijuana law would allow the sale of marijuana with the lowest tax rate in the nation -- up to 12 percent, compared to 25 percent to 37 percent in other states where marijuana is legal. Lawmakers have been talking about raising that rate.
"Because, like gaming, marijuana will have to pay for itself, the Marijuana Committee will look at a variety of revenue options," DeLeo said, adding that it is too early to know what those options are. He said he anticipates using some of the proceeds for the new fund to help fight the ongoing epidemic of opioid addiction.
DeLeo also said lawmakers will examine issues relating to local control of marijuana, and whether municipalities should have to opt in to hosting retail marijuana shops as opposed to the current process where they must actively opt out.
DeLeo also noted that the state's entire marijuana law could be derailed "with a stroke of the pen in Washington" since marijuana is still illegal federally, and Trump officials have given some indication that they may crack down on states that legalized marijuana.
DeLeo said more broadly, the House will be prepared to deal with the fallout from the Trump administration.
"It seems like almost every day we are dealing with a contentious statement or action from the Trump Administration. Twitter Trumpisms that disrupt plans, destabilize organizations, and menace our residents come all too frequently," DeLeo said. "From health care to higher education to business, I'm getting the sense that we will experience uncertain economic fallout, and that the security of our students, innovators and residents may be in peril. We need to be prepared and have a plan to protect our interests."
DeLeo said the House will create an inter-committee working group to figure out what legislative solutions are "necessary and feasible" to address federal policy.
One other significant policy announcement DeLeo made: the House will take up the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act as soon as possible. The bill would require employers to give pregnant women reasonable accommodations -- things like bathroom breaks, modified work schedules or seating.
A version of the bill was introduced in the last legislative session and never made it through the Legislature, but it has a much better chance if DeLeo is pushing for it.
As introduced last session, the bill would require employers to provide "reasonable accommodations" for pregnant workers as long as the accommodation does not impose undue hardship on the business. The employer would be prohibited from retaliating against or demoting a pregnant worker for asking for accommodations, or discriminating against that worker. The bill would also prohibit potential employers from discriminating against a pregnant job applicant who asks for accommodations.
DeLeo told the Chamber of Commerce audience that he thinks the bill "provides essential guarantees and safety measures." "Under this law, pregnant women will be protected from discrimination when it comes to commonsense accommodations like nursing needs and food, water and restroom breaks," DeLeo said. "And businesses will engage in a collaborative process with their employees to determine effective and reasonable accommodations."
Liz Friedman, former program director of MotherWoman, an organization that spearheaded the campaign for the bill, said, ""The passage of this legislation will have a huge impact on job security for pregnant workers in Massachusetts and will offer important new protections to the most vulnerable in our work force. At a time when so much is unknown about how existing protections for workers will be enforced by Attorney General Jeffrey Sessions, it is heartening to see Speaker DeLeo take much needed leadership in ensuring protections for pregnant workers."
DeLeo's announcement came a day before a national protest called Day Without A Woman, where women plan to walk out of work to protest injustice and discrimination and express concern for policies that could potentially affect women under the Trump administration. DeLeo rescheduled his Chamber of Commerce speech to avoid conflicting with the protest.
"As the winds out of Washington threaten the safety and livelihoods of women, Massachusetts will stand for the opposite," DeLeo said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Speaker Robert DeLeo - Marijuana Revenue Could Pay For New Opioid Addiction Fund
Author: Shira Schoenberg
Contact: 413-731-1036
Photo Credit: Dave Roback
Website: MassLive
"We have a rare opportunity to deploy a new tactic to fight what has become the fastest growing killer of young adults and other Massachusetts residents," DeLeo said in a speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, according to a copy of his prepared remarks. "Aided by the state proceeds of marijuana, we will create the Substance Addiction Fund dedicated to addiction and recovery efforts."
In his morning speech to Boston area business leaders, at a forum often used by politicians to lay out significant policy proposals, DeLeo talked about the uncertainty created by President Donald J. Trump's administration in Washington and the role of the state House in protecting Massachusetts residents. He discussed potential changes to the state's marijuana law, which voters passed on the ballot in November. He also pledged to support an act requiring employers to offer reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers.
"In this time of national uncertainty, the House will not waver from the principles of collaboration that have made us a national leader in so many regards," DeLeo said.
The new marijuana law would allow the sale of marijuana with the lowest tax rate in the nation -- up to 12 percent, compared to 25 percent to 37 percent in other states where marijuana is legal. Lawmakers have been talking about raising that rate.
"Because, like gaming, marijuana will have to pay for itself, the Marijuana Committee will look at a variety of revenue options," DeLeo said, adding that it is too early to know what those options are. He said he anticipates using some of the proceeds for the new fund to help fight the ongoing epidemic of opioid addiction.
DeLeo also said lawmakers will examine issues relating to local control of marijuana, and whether municipalities should have to opt in to hosting retail marijuana shops as opposed to the current process where they must actively opt out.
DeLeo also noted that the state's entire marijuana law could be derailed "with a stroke of the pen in Washington" since marijuana is still illegal federally, and Trump officials have given some indication that they may crack down on states that legalized marijuana.
DeLeo said more broadly, the House will be prepared to deal with the fallout from the Trump administration.
"It seems like almost every day we are dealing with a contentious statement or action from the Trump Administration. Twitter Trumpisms that disrupt plans, destabilize organizations, and menace our residents come all too frequently," DeLeo said. "From health care to higher education to business, I'm getting the sense that we will experience uncertain economic fallout, and that the security of our students, innovators and residents may be in peril. We need to be prepared and have a plan to protect our interests."
DeLeo said the House will create an inter-committee working group to figure out what legislative solutions are "necessary and feasible" to address federal policy.
One other significant policy announcement DeLeo made: the House will take up the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act as soon as possible. The bill would require employers to give pregnant women reasonable accommodations -- things like bathroom breaks, modified work schedules or seating.
A version of the bill was introduced in the last legislative session and never made it through the Legislature, but it has a much better chance if DeLeo is pushing for it.
As introduced last session, the bill would require employers to provide "reasonable accommodations" for pregnant workers as long as the accommodation does not impose undue hardship on the business. The employer would be prohibited from retaliating against or demoting a pregnant worker for asking for accommodations, or discriminating against that worker. The bill would also prohibit potential employers from discriminating against a pregnant job applicant who asks for accommodations.
DeLeo told the Chamber of Commerce audience that he thinks the bill "provides essential guarantees and safety measures." "Under this law, pregnant women will be protected from discrimination when it comes to commonsense accommodations like nursing needs and food, water and restroom breaks," DeLeo said. "And businesses will engage in a collaborative process with their employees to determine effective and reasonable accommodations."
Liz Friedman, former program director of MotherWoman, an organization that spearheaded the campaign for the bill, said, ""The passage of this legislation will have a huge impact on job security for pregnant workers in Massachusetts and will offer important new protections to the most vulnerable in our work force. At a time when so much is unknown about how existing protections for workers will be enforced by Attorney General Jeffrey Sessions, it is heartening to see Speaker DeLeo take much needed leadership in ensuring protections for pregnant workers."
DeLeo's announcement came a day before a national protest called Day Without A Woman, where women plan to walk out of work to protest injustice and discrimination and express concern for policies that could potentially affect women under the Trump administration. DeLeo rescheduled his Chamber of Commerce speech to avoid conflicting with the protest.
"As the winds out of Washington threaten the safety and livelihoods of women, Massachusetts will stand for the opposite," DeLeo said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Speaker Robert DeLeo - Marijuana Revenue Could Pay For New Opioid Addiction Fund
Author: Shira Schoenberg
Contact: 413-731-1036
Photo Credit: Dave Roback
Website: MassLive
