Stan Rosenberg Just Endorsed Legalized Marijuana
In a major departure among top Massachusetts politicians, Senate President Stan Rosenberg announced Thursday that he will be voting yes on Question 4, the ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana for recreational use.
Rosenberg, a Democrat, is breaking ranks with most of his colleagues on Beacon Hill, where there is broad bipartisan opposition to the measure.
Gov. Charlie Baker, Mayor Marty Walsh, Attorney General Maura Healey and a majority in the Legislature are opposed to legalization, and they have been joined in the state by powerful forces in the medicine, business, education, and faith communities.
There were early signs that Rosenberg might not share the opinions of his colleagues on the issue. He did not sign an early letter from the anti-legalization Safe and Healthy Massachusetts campaign declaring opposition to Question 4. Pressed to take a side earlier this year, he told Masslive that, “Adults should be able to make their own decisions. Give them quality information and let them make their own choices and decisions.”
In a tweet late Thursday morning, he also suggested that that he sees flaws in the language proposed in the ballot question that might be resolved at the State House. “I will vote Yes on Question 4, to legalize marijuana. Then we will work to improve the law.”
I will vote Yes on Question 4, to legalize marijuana. Then we will work to improve the law. #mapoli
— Stan Rosenberg (@SenStan) October 20, 2016
What say you, Elizabeth Warren?
