Senate President Stanley Rosenberg promised that lawmakers will not further delay the opening of marijuana retail shops after the legislature's approved six-month extension.

“We need to get that up and running on time," Rosenberg said on Boston Herald Radio's “Morning Meeting” show with Jaclyn Cashman and Hillary Chabot. "We made a commitment, we said we would not delay more than six months."

Rosenber said retail pot shops have the potential to open sooner than the July 2018 deadline if lawmakers feel they are fully prepared by an earlier date, but there is no urgency to do so.

“The important thing is to get it right like we did with casinos,” Rosenberg said. “I hope we won't take it right to June. But if we do, we're still going to get it right and we're going to be on time because we're not going to do another delay.”

The committee has been taking a meticulous look at the law to ensure an efficient rollout and is discussing potential structure changes.

“One of the questions that the legislative committee on marijuana is looking at is 'is three the right number?,' " Rosenberg said. "They could propose to add another one or two (commissioners).”

Rosenberg said they are taking a look at what areas of expertise are necessary for the committee and said there is potential for the department to be run much like the gaming commission, with various “department heads” who all bring a “specific skill set and expertise.”

He added that, "the committee is going to make recommendations on governance. It's a fair question to raise and ask, 'is this the right structure that was in the bill?' But the treasurer's office, they have so much knowledge and so much capacity here, I can't imagine that they won't be playing a role in this."

Rosenberg also said the treasurer's office has “built up too much knowledge and capacity” to be set aside.

On the new health care bill which will be voted on tomorrow, Rosenberg spoke about the importance of working with Washington following Gov. Charlie Baker letter that claimed the statet could lose as much $4 billion in federal aid by 2022.

"We have to work with all of the other states and get Washington to come to their senses about what they're doing here," he said. "They cannot afford to do this. Millions and millions of people are going to lose their health insurance.

As a Democrat, he says he has been working with Republicans to gain support.

“You'd be surprised at how much reaching across the aisle can work.”