Candidates for a state Senate seat,which covers more than 50 towns spanning Massachusetts’ four western counties, debated Monday night in Pittsfield. Democrat Adam Hinds of Pittsfield and Republican Christine Canning of Lanesborough are vying for the seat currently held by Ben Downing, who is stepping down after a decade.

The debate at Berkshire Community College had a cordial tone, and neither candidate raised their voice at each other for the entire 45 minutes,

Canning, an educational consultant, and Hinds, who heads a social service agency in North Adams, were asked about Question 4, which would legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Hinds said while he has no problem with adult use, he’s concerned the ballot question doesn’t do enough to take care of young adults.

“Does this ballot question create enough to insulate the developing brain of youth from the impacts of substance use, up to age 24 and 25?” Hinds said. “Right now, it’s legalization from 21 on.”

Canning agreed with Hinds on that, but thinks the marijuana business could mean a lot of green for the region.

“If you really want to re-purpose our area, look at our agriculture and make money, we have to look at it as both a vertical and horizontal model of integration where we are selling, and buying and reproducing,” Canning said.

And that was only the start of the conversation about how to grow the economy of Berkshire County, which makes up most of this district. Hinds said improving broadband internet service, public transportation and workforce development efforts are all important. He said education is key in attracting young adults to the Berkshires.

“It’s those 20-to-30-year-olds that are maybe about to start a family who are missing,” Hinds said. “And we better be able to point to the best schools around for that reason as well, if we’re going to keep them or attract them. And that means we better do all we can to bolster our schools.”

Canning said, in order to get more jobs in the area, state government needs to look at another way to attract new businesses.

“We need to lower our taxes so that we can increase small business, because we know, and you know, that small business attracts jobs,” Canning said.

And at the end of this forum, no dust needed to settle, as the Democrat and Republican, who both called for an inclusive, bi-partisan approach to the job, shook hands, chatted and smiled for a few minutes — a stark contrast to some debates at the national level this fall.