Politicians debate race, opioid addiction in marijuana legalization battle

Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson addressed a rally of marijuana legalization supporters outside the Statehouse on Aug. 3, 2016. (SHIRA SCHOENBERG / THE REPUBLICAN)

By Shira Schoenberg

When it comes to marijuana policy, Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse is in the minority.

Opponents of legalizing recreational marijuana have marshaled an overwhelming show of force among the state's top politicians. Their side includes Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, and Democratic Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. On Wednesday, the anti-marijuana Campaign for a Safe and Healthy Massachusetts released a new list of 119 politicians — including some in Western Massachusetts — who oppose marijuana legalization.

At the same time, however, the Democratic Morse, Boston city councilors Michelle Wu and Tito Jackson and State Rep. David Rogers, D-Cambridge, were holding a press conference outside the Statehouse to support marijuana legalization — showing that not every politician is on the same side of Question 4 on the November ballot.

Asked about his opposition to Walsh's position, Jackson said, "This is about helping the most people in the city of Boston."

Their political endorsements may be few in number, but the pro-marijuana supporters have some history on their side. Massachusetts voters previously decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana and legalized medical marijuana. Recent polling found voters are split on legalizing recreational marijuana.

The Western Massachusetts lawmakers to come out against marijuana legalization on Wednesday include State Sen. Don Humason, R-Westfield, State Sen. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer, State Rep. Todd Smola, R-Warren, State Rep. John Scibak, D-South Hadley, State Rep. Michael Finn, D-West Springfield, State Rep. Thomas Petrolati, D-Ludlow, State Rep. Angelo Puppolo, D-Springfield, and State Rep. Ellen Story, D-Amherst.

On Wednesday, the major flashpoints in the debate were racial inequity and opioid addiction.

Marijuana legalization supporters cited statistics showing that in Massachusetts, blacks and Latinos are four times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana offenses, even though usage rates are similar. "What kind of a system are we building if Harvard kids can smoke pot and continue to enjoy every privilege but black and brown residents go to jail, face disproportionate impacts and enforcement?" asked Wu, the Boston City Council president.

But opponents of marijuana legalization cited a Colorado study, which found that since marijuana legalization there, arrest rates for marijuana offenses for whites fell at a far greater rate than for blacks or Hispanics. In 2014, the arrest rate for marijuana offenses for blacks were almost triple that of whites. (Offenses include things like underage possession or selling marijuana.) Reports from Colorado have also found the marijuana industry concentrating in minority neighborhoods.

One of the major arguments opponents of marijuana legalization use is that as Massachusetts fights an epidemic of opioid addiction, the state does not need to legalize another drug. "As our work to bend the trend on the opioid epidemic is just beginning, the last thing we need is to add yet another challenge for our young people and our addiction community," Baker said in a statement.

DeLeo added, "At a time when we are dealing with an addiction crisis, it is reckless and unwise to increase access to another drug that we know is harmful to our kids and families."

But the pro-marijuana group cited a 2014 study from the Journal of the American Medical Association, which found that states with medical marijuana have lower rates of opioid overdose deaths. (That study does not address non-medical marijuana.)

Jackson said the revenue raised from taxing marijuana could fund new beds for treatment for those addicted to opioids and other drugs.

Steve Hatch, a nurse in a substance abuse detoxification unit who spoke at the pro-legalization rally, said marijuana use does not cause opioid addiction. While marijuana use correlates with the use of other illegal drugs, so does the use of alcohol and cigarettes, which are both legal and more addictive than marijuana.

Morse argued that the current policy is clearly failing to curb drug use — and keeping marijuana on the black market means people will buy the drug in an environment that is unsafe, where the product is unregulated.

"The system that we have now is a failed system," Morse said. "A system that is regulated and bright, is exposed and transparent, will lead to more education and a reduction in addiction."