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State Sen. Stanley Rosenberg

(Republican file)

BOSTON - State Senate President Stan Rosenberg says he plans to vote "yes" on Question 4, a November ballot measure that would legalize marijuana for recreational use in Massachusetts.



Rosenberg's statement sets him apart from other top elected officials on Beacon Hill: Gov. Charlie Baker is a top opponent of Question 4, as is Rosenberg's counterpart in the Mass. House of Representatives, Robert DeLeo. Baker and DeLeo are part of a bipartisan coalition organized to oppose the measure.



Rosenberg, D-Amherst, made the comment on WGBH's "Boston Public Radio" show on Thursday.



Rosenberg's staff also posted to Twitter his stance on the controversial ballot question during his appearance on WGBH. Rosenberg indicated he plans to undertake an effort to tweak the language of the measure if it passes.

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

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 created a special Senate committee on marijuana last year, aimed at gathering research on the topic of legalization. The chair of the committee, Sen. Jason Lewis of Winchester, is now a leading opponent of Question 4.

The special Senate committee's report called for heavily taxing marijuana, far more than proposed under the ballot question.

The report also calls for a ban on "home growing," or a temporary prohibition. The ballot question allows "home growing."

Reporters have frequently attempted to ask Rosenberg what his position on the ballot question is. "People should be able to do what they want to do as long as they don't hurt anybody else," Rosenberg said in 2015, declining to directly answer the question while acknowledging many of his constituents back legalization.

A recent poll from WBUR and MassINC Polling Group showed the "yes" vote on Question 4 leading by 15 points.

Proponents of the measure say the ballot measure would replace an unregulated black market and set up a "tightly regulated system" through a new Cannabis Control Commission.

Opponents say a "yes" vote will lead to the creation of a "billion-dollar commercial marijuana industry" that will allow sale and marketing potent marijuana edibles like candy and cookies.

The spokesman for "Yes on 4" praised Rosenberg in a statement.

"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 and generate much-needed revenue for taxpayers," said Jim Borgehsani, the spokesman, in an email. "We hope more elected officials follow his brave leadership."

Nick Bayer, campaign manager for the "No on 4" side, called Rosenberg a "long time supporter" of marijuana legalization and they disagree with him.

"What is really at stake here in a state that has already decriminalized marijuana and allowed marijuana for medical use, is whether or not the residents of Massachusetts want to welcome a billion dollar for-profit industry, that includes the sale of high potency edibles marketed to children, into their communities," Bayer said in an emailed statement. "We believe the answer is no."

This post was updated at 12:38 p.m. with a statement from the "Yes on 4" camp. This post was further updated at 2:15 p.m. with a statement from the "No on 4" side.