Town Council Votes to Oppose Legalizing Marijuana

BRAINTREE, MA —Braintree's state senator and a majority of the Town Council have come out against a ballot question that would legalize marijuana for adults in Massachusetts.

Tuesday night, the council voted to oppose Question 4, which would legalize marijuana in the state for adults 21 and older. State Senator John Keenan spoke prior to the vote, telling the council he thinks there isn’t enough information to make a proper decision.

"Let (Colorado) move forward, let them be the grand experiment, let them take the risks and then when we have the information, let's make the decision,” Keenan said.

Keenan said he opposes the ballot questions for multiple reasons including the high potency of the products, the level of THC in marijuana-laced candies, and a concern that the proposed 10 percent sales tax on marijuana products would barely cover the cost to regulate the drug. He questioned projections that the state could receive over $100 million in revenue, noting that Colorado had to spend $35.3 to regulate their law and their sales tax is 29 percent.

“The amount of revenue would be just barely be enough to cover the cost to regulate marijuana,” he said. “We would have to sell $1 billion in marijuana, that’s not going to happen."

Councilor John Mullaney was the only member of the council to show support for Question 4.

“If we can control something, we can regulate it,” he said.

Other members of the council were more alarmed about the prospects of legal marijuana.

“If this passes I hope you get to know your neighbors because God knows what happens behind their doors,” Councilor Thomas Bowes said.

Other concerns from the council include the candy products and the potential cost to public safety departments.

“If this becomes legal, even if adults have it, children can have access to it. The entire police force is going to have to become trained on drugged driving. It’s going to be an expense on our community,” Councilor Shannon Hume said.

Recent polling shows that the majority of residents are in favor of legalization. In a poll from Western New England University, 55 percent of those polled said they supported legalization, compared to 39 percent who said they are against it.

Voters will have their say on Election Day on Nov. 8.

Image: file photo