Massachusetts Senate President: I’m Voting for Cannabis Question
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg said he’s backing a ballot question that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in the state.
Rosenberg said he hopes he and fellow lawmakers can make improvements to the question if voters approve it, but he didn’t offer specific changes. He made the comments Thursday during an interview on WGBH-FM.
Rosenberg also said residents who want to cultivate their own cannabis should “be able to have a few plants growing on your property.”
The November ballot question would let those 21 years old or older possess up to one ounce of marijuana for recreational use and allow the home cultivation of up to 12 cannabis plants.
Rosenberg’s endorsement came as opponents of the ballot question reported a $1 million donation by Las Vegas Sands Corporation CEO Sheldon Adelson, bringing their fundraising total to $1.7 million.
Supporters have raised nearly $3.7 million.
Rosenberg’s views put him at odds with many other top officials on Beacon Hill, including Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey, Democratic House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Democratic Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, all of whom oppose Question 4.
They say legalizing cannabis could lead people to harder drugs, including opioids, which are blamed for a surge in overdose deaths in the state in recent years.
Baker, appearing on the same radio station just moments after Rosenberg, repeated his concerns about the ballot question.
Baker noted that Massachusetts voters already have approved the medicinal use of marijuana and have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of the drug. He said Question 4 goes beyond just the legalization of marijuana because it is being pushed by those hoping to open cannabis shops across the state.
“This question is designed to create a billion-dollar industry in the commonwealth of Massachusetts that will have very few limitations on where its dispensaries go,” Baker said. “I think the voters, when they walk into the ballot box on this one, are going to decide that this is not the right question or the right time.”
Backers of the question welcomed Rosenberg’s support.
“President Rosenberg deserves enormous credit for taking a courageous stand on replacing the failed system we have today with a regulated structure that will actually control marijuana in Massachusetts,” Jim Borghesani from Yes on 4 said in a statement.
Recent polls indicate growing support among voters for legalization.
A poll released Wednesday by WBUR-FM found 55 percent of voters back the ballot question, while 40 percent oppose it. The poll of 502 likely Massachusetts voters was conducted Oct. 13-16 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
A handful of other elected officials say they favor the recreational use of cannabis, including Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton, who said last month, “we do need to make sure it’s done right.”
The ballot question would impose a 3.75 percent excise tax on cannabis sales — on top of the state’s regular 6.25 percent sales tax. Cities and town would be able to tack on an additional 2 percent municipal tax.
The proposal would let employers bar the use of marijuana by employees in the workplace. Officials could continue to restrict marijuana use in public buildings and near schools.
If approved, the law would take effect Dec. 15.
