Senate President Stan Rosenberg wants to legalize recreational marijuana in Massachusetts.
The Amherst Democrat announced on WGBH radio and in a series of tweets that he will vote for Ballot Question 4.
I will vote Yes on Question 4, to legalize marijuana. Then we will work to improve the law. #mapoli
— Stan Rosenberg (@SenStan) October 20, 2016
As recently as August, Rosenberg sounded both supportive and skeptical of the proposal, and he refused to directly answer how he’d vote on it.
“I’m not prepared to discuss it publicly,” Rosenberg told us after an unrelated event in Springfield. “My public position is people ought to be able to decide for themselves if they want to consume the product.”
Now Rosenberg says he will vote yes, and then the legislature will work to “improve the law.”
The @MA_Senate report will be invaluable to us in improving the law on legalizing marijuana, which I believe will pass. #mapoli
— Stan Rosenberg (@SenStan) October 20, 2016
Rosenberg previously said he was concerned about whether police would be able to identify people driving under the influence of marijuana, and whether the proposed tax rate for the drug was too low.
His support for the ballot question puts him at odds with other top politicians in the state, including Governor Charlie Baker and House Speaker Bob DeLeo.