“We want to give the legal market every possible advantage, because it is competing with an established illegal market, and I think taxing it is a disadvantage.”
Justice
animal welfare, civil law and procedure, criminal law, disability, drug policy, family law, freedom of speech, guardianship, gun violence, housing law, immigration, indigenous agenda, lgbtq rights, policing, privacy, sexual child abuse, terrorism, women's rights
The Upcoming Marijuana Votes
I supported Question 4, legalizing marijuana, because I feel there are too many ways for young people to get caught up in the criminal justice system. I think the ballot question needs little modification — but there are two kinds of troubling proposals under discussion in the legislature. I would welcome your thoughts before voting.
Safe Injection Facilities — the Time is Now
Last weekend, the Massachusetts Medical Society endorsed the legalization of safe injection facilities. I am the sponsor of a bill to create a framework for legal operation of these facilities. The bill speaks to a crying need, especially now that fentanyl is on the market being sold as heroin.
The Crossing
Every once in a while you run into a story that you can’t quite believe and you just want to hear more.
Some Stats on Criminal Justice
As the conversation about criminal justice reform heats up, some numbers are helpful for putting things in perspective. As I share in this post, Massachusetts has the third lowest incarceration rate among the 50 states–but we lock up 4 to 5 times as many people as we did 40 years ago. I want to share more on this critical issue, and to hear from you, at my upcoming community discussions.
Sen. Brownsberger to Co-Host Criminal Justice Reform Discussions in Watertown and Brighton
Senator Brownsberger will co-host a community discussion on criminal justice reform efforts in Massachusetts on 3/11 at the Belmont Town Hall