Legalize it? Radio debate tackles Question 4

Proponents and opponents of Question 4 - legalizing marijuana for recreational use - made their pitches Thursday night during a live radio debate at WATD studios in Marshfield. Voters will ultimately decide on Nov. 8 whether to approve the law, which would legalize the purchase and use of marijuana by people 21 and over, and allow an individual to possess up to one ounce and grow up to 12 plants.

By Patrick Ronan

Proponents of Question 4 – legalizing marijuana for recreational use – say it will take commerce from criminals, create a new source of state revenue and give consumers fair access to a drug that’s much safer than alcohol.

Opponents say it will spawn a new black market for criminals, put children in harm’s way by exposing them to edible products like marijuana gummy bears, and increase drugged-driving, an offense that’s difficult to detect and prosecute.

Both sides made their pitches Thursday night during a live radio debate at WATD studios in Marshfield. Voters will ultimately decide on Nov. 8 whether to approve the law, which would legalize the purchase and use of marijuana by people 21 and over, and allow an individual to possess up to one ounce and grow up to 12 plants.

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz, who along with state Rep. Mathew J. Muratore, R-Plymouth, spoke against Question 4, said Colorado and Washington state – the first two U.S. states to legalize cannabis for recreational use – have been hurt by the laws.

“The black market continues to thrive in Colorado. Whether that be selling to underage kids, whether that be the lack of regulation, whether that be the amount of THC that’s put into it, whether that be the close-by states that don’t have legalization, it continues,” he said.

Cruz cited a study that found fatal crashes involving drivers that tested positive for marijuana have increased in Washington in recent years.

Jim Borghesani, communications director for Yes on 4, who advocated for Question 4 along with Beth Waterfall, chair of Women Grow: Boston, cited a poll from Colorado that said the law is more popular today than it was when it was on the state ballot in 2012.

Borghesani stressed that he’s not advocating for marijuana use; he wants to put the industry in the hands of legitimate businesses who pay taxes, check IDs and who are completely controlled by state regulators and local authorities.

“I’m not pro-marijuana; I’m anti-prohibition, I’m not a marijuana user,” he said. “If nobody smokes marijuana, that’s OK with me. If nobody drinks alcohol, that’s OK with me. But I do want to end prohibition because it’s been a terrible failure.”

Waterfall said she’s confused why alcohol use is so widely accepted, but not marijuana.

“I don’t understand why something as deadly (as alcohol) – that kills 28 people just from accidents in a day, six people from overconsumption in a day – why we’re not focusing our efforts on changing that, instead of letting this non-toxic plant be something that people can use every day,” she said.

Muratore, who’s on the long list of lawmakers opposed to Question 4 including along with Gov. Charlie Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey, focused his comments on the financial ramifications of legalization. He said the administrative costs needed to create a new regulatory body called the Cannabis Control Commission wouldn’t be covered by the 10-percent tax proposed in Question 4 – the 6.25 percent state sales tax plus a 3.75 percent excise tax. Individual communities could also adopt an additional 2 percent local sales tax.

Colorado charges a 29 percent tax on marijuana products, and Washington state charges a 37-percent tax.

“Ten percent is not a lot,” Muratore said.

Borghesani said Massachusetts’ lower tax will help ensure that a black market for cheaper marijuana doesn’t emerge.

Cruz raised concerns about drugged-driving, saying there’s no breathalyzer-type device police officers can use to detect marijuana use. He said only a limited number of officers have received the training needed to detect narcotics use by a driver.

Borghesani said the anti-prohibition movement has prompted researchers to develop new devices that detect marijuana use, and he said they’re expected to be in use next year.

Question 4, if approved, would allows cities and towns to designate where marijuana shops can open or ban them altogether.