Senate President Stanley C. Rosenberg says he will vote in favor of the ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana in Massachusetts, allowing it to be taxed and regulated for recreational use.
During an interview with radio station WGBH Thursday, the Amherst Democrat, for the first time, said he will vote in favor of Question 4 on the Nov. 8 election ballot.
In a tweet following the interview, Rosenberg said, “I will vote yes on Question 4, to legalize marijuana. Then we will work to improve the law.”
Rosenberg also announced Thursday he would oppose Question 2, which would lift the cap on charter schools in the commonwealth.
Spokeswoman Mara Dolan confirmed that Rosenberg had not previously announced his stance on the marijuana referendum.
“He has in the past said he believes adults have the right to make their own choices,” Dolan said.
In an August interview with the Gazette, Rosenberg said he would not campaign for or against the question, which he described as having “big policy gaps,” but did say adults should have the right to decide whether to use the drug.
Dolan added that if the measure passes, Rosenberg intends to have the Legislature improve the legislation and address questions not addressed in the ballot question.
Rosenberg’s position differs from other elected leaders in the region and state, including Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, Gov. Charlie Baker, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Attorney General Maura Healey, who all oppose legalizing recreational marijuana.
Baker, appearing on the same show Thursday, moments after Rosenberg, said the question is being pushed by those hoping to open pot shops across the state.
“This question is designed to create a billion-dollar industry in the commonwealth of Massachusetts that will have very few limitations on where its dispensaries go,” Baker said.
Backers of the question welcomed Rosenberg’s support.
“President Rosenberg deserves enormous credit for taking a courageous stand on replacing the failed system we have today with a regulated structure that will actually control marijuana in Massachusetts,” Jim Borghesani from Yes on 4 said in a statement.
The ballot question would let those 21 years old or older possess up to one ounce of marijuana for recreational use and allow the home cultivation of up to 12 marijuana plants. It would impose a 3.75 percent excise tax on pot sales, on top of the state’s regular 6.25 percent sales tax. Cities and town would be able to tack on an additional 2 percent municipal tax.
If approved, the law would take effect Dec. 15.
Rosenberg’s endorsement came as opponents of the ballot question reported a $1 million donation by Las Vegas Sands Corp. CEO Sheldon Adelson, bringing their fundraising total to $1.7 million.
Supporters have raised nearly $3.7 million.
Among the problems Rosenberg identified with the ballot question were how edible products would be regulated and controlled, whether there is a reliable way to deal with driving under the influence and the proper tax rate. There is also a question about whether the taxes collected would be enough to pay for regulatory costs, as well as law enforcement and substance abuse treatment costs.
In 2015, Rosenberg pushed for the Legislature to draft its own ballot question on legal marijuana to ensure that concerns like those were addressed. His proposal was rejected by Baker and House Speaker Robert DeLeo, however.
DeLeo and Rosenberg are at odds also on the charter school question, which would allow for 12 new charter schools to be established each year outside of the existing cap.
Spokesman Pete Wilson said Rosenberg fully supported the Senate’s approach to the charter issue this year when it passed the so-called RISE Act, which lifted the cap for some types of charters, but the House never took up the bill.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
