Group Asks Lawmakers to Hold off on Changes to MA Pot Law

BOSTON (AP) The group behind a ballot initiative that legalized recreational marijuana in Massachusetts is now urging state legislators to keep the new law intact.

The appeal from Yes on 4 came one week before the Legislatures marijuana policy committee was scheduled to open public hearings on possible revisions to the law, which allows adults to possess an ounce or less of marijuana and grow up to a dozen pot plants in their homes.

Jim Borghesani, a spokesman for the group, accused policymakers of creating a false narrative around the notion that the voter-approved measure, as currently written, is flawed.

The new law requires no legislative fixes, he said.

Before considering changes, Borghesani said, lawmakers should defer to the yet-to-be-appointed Cannabis Control Commission, a three-member panel that will serve as the regulatory body for recreational marijuana in the state. If necessary, the commission could later make recommendations to the Legislature for any changes, he added.

The Legislature has already voted to delay for six months several key deadlines contained in the law, including the original March 1 deadline for appointing the commission. The delay is likely to push the opening of the first retail pot shops in Massachusetts back to mid-2018 at the earliest.

Borghesani said Massachusetts is the only one of the eight states where recreational marijuana was approved by voters to delay the timetable for implementation or consider a significant overhaul.

Legislative leaders on Monday appeared unmoved by the groups plea to leave the law alone.

Its not our intention to undermine the will of the voters, its our intention to get it right, said Democratic Senate President Stan Rosenberg. His comments were echoed by Democratic House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, who shared advice offered by officials in states that previously legalized recreational pot.

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