Wicked Local Marblehead: North Shore Elected Officials Weigh in on Pot Referendum
September 30th, 2016
A majority of state-level elected officials who represent Marblehead, Salem and Swampscott oppose legalizing marijuana and will not be supporting Question 4 on the Nov. 8 ballot.
“Evidence has shown that the legalization of marijuana is not safe, particularly for children, and poses serious implications for our health and public-safety resources across the commonwealth,” said Gov. Charlie Baker, R-Swampscott.
State Sen. Joan Lovely and Rep. Paul Tucker, both Democrats of Salem, have also pledged to shade in the “no” ovals next to Question 4. Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll intends to do the same – but she didn’t rule out potentially voting for legalization in the future.
“She’s not ready to support it yet and so will be voting in opposition to the ballot question,” said her chief of staff, Dominick Pangallo.
A majority “Yes” vote on Question 4 would pave the way for adults 21 and older to possess, use and transfer marijuana and edibles containing cannabis in limited amounts. It would also establish a 3.75 percent surcharge tax on marijuana and a state system for the regulation of it, including for public safety.
“I hope people seriously inform themselves on this question because the negatives far outweigh the positives,” said Tucker.
Congressman Seth Moulton, D-Salem, and state Rep. Lori Ehrlich, D-Marblehead, take the opposite point of view. Both believe the state stands to benefit from passing the referendum through the enactment of regulatory and tax-revenue elements the ballot measure would trigger.
“Legalization will force us to come to terms with things that are already happening,” said Moulton. “Regulation is the only realistic way to solve public-safety issues around marijuana use, and given we’ve already decriminalized possession of small amounts.”
Under the proposed law, which would go into effect Dec. 15, adults can carry and give another person an ounce of pot outside their homes. And in their homes, they can possess up to ten ounces and grow up to six marijuana plants. Municipalities could also subject pot sales to a separate tax of up to 2 percent.
“I have long felt that marijuana should be treated like alcohol: not available to children, regulated for safety and revenue collected on its sale,” said Ehrlich.
Ehrlich, in fact, has filed House bills calling for legalization of pot with limitations.
Implementing regulations that the ballot measure calls for, in part, a three-member cannabis control commission and 15-member cannabis advisory board, will take hard work, time and energy, Moulton said, “but that’s not reason enough to shy away from making the right decision.”
Full article here.
