Massachusetts Senate Panel Cautions On Pot Legislation
BOSTON (CBS/AP) — A state Senate committee that visited Colorado to learn about recreational marijuana is warning that Massachusetts may not be prepared for legalization.
In a 118-page report released Tuesday, the panel recommends steps be taken should voters approve a likely November ballot question that would allow the recreational use and possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for those 21 and older.
The report takes no official stand on legalization but says taxes included in the plan would likely fall short of covering regulatory and social costs attached to legalization. It also outlines public safety concerns including the likelihood that a black market for marijuana will persist even if the drug is sold legally.
About 900,000 people in Massachusetts use marijuana and one in four high school students have used it, the committee reported.
State Senator Jason Lewis, who chairs the Senate Special Committee on Marijuana, said that most senators oppose legalization of marijuana, and that it was unlikely the legislature would pass a legalization bill.
In addition to their report, the committee also submitted a letter of serious concerns regarding marijuana legalization. Lewis said the fact that marijuana was in so many edibles in Colorado--and that it was offered in many other formats--was one of their concerns.
Other concerns the committee members have about legalization include the fact that there is no established test for marijuana intoxication, and that legalization may make pot more accessible to children.
"We do think that legalization might make marijuana more accessible to kids, and that also, legalization would send a signal to young people that marijuana is safe for them to consume," said Lewis.
The panel spent time in January visiting Colorado, one of four states that allow recreational pot use.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
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