Marty Walsh 2015

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, right, chats with Nicole Boggio, of Severna Park, MD, left, at a sidewalk cafe on Boylston Street near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 14, 2014, in Boston. The mayor told various news outlets Monday that he would be willing to lead the fight to oppose the legalization of marijuana in Massachusetts.

(Steven Senne / Associated Press file)

Anyone looking for somebody to lead the fight against legalizing marijuana in Massachusetts need look no further than Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.

Walsh, himself a recovering alcoholic, told radio station WBZ-AM Monday that making pot legal, in his opinion, would be a "slippery slope."

State Sen. Stanley Rosenberg said Monday he thinks lawmakers should consider putting a nonbinding question on the 2016 ballot asking voters if they would support legalizing the recreational use of marijuana.

He told the Associated Press he's trying to avoid the possibility voters might approve another, perhaps poorly written, ballot question also aimed at legalizing pot.

Two groups have said they hope to put questions on the 2016 ballot aimed at the full legalization of it.

Four states, including Colorado, currently allow for recreational marijuana use. In 2008, Massachusetts voters adopted a ballot question calling for decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, and in 2012 passed another question allowing its use for medical purposes.

He also said he thinks its hypocritical to spend money on anti-smoking campaigns while at the same time calling for the state to allow people to smoke marijuana.

When asked by the Boston Herald if he ever smoked marijuana, he said he has not.

In 1992, then presidential candidate Bill Clinton became the butt of some jokes when he said he tried marijuana, but "didn't inhale."

Unlike Clinton, Walsh hasn't experienced any backlash from his pot inhaling denial.

That may well be because as a recovering alcoholic, Walsh is a passionate advocate for those struggling with addition, according to the Globe.

While there may be a significant amount of political risk in opposing a referendum many people think will pass, aides tell the Globe Walsh's position is a matter of conscience.

According to a poll done for radio station WBUR-FM by MassInc Walsh is viewed favorably by about two-thirds of Boston's registered voters.

In addition to Walsh, Gov. Charlie Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey, and Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley have all come out in opposition to the legalization of marijuana. For his part, Rosenberg hasn't said which way he would vote.