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YES on 4

Tax & Regulate


Marijuana

ForImmediateRelease
July28,2016
Contact:JimBorghesani,CommunicationsDirector
6178339327,jim@regulatemass.com

Legislators announce endorsements of the


Yes on Question 4 Campaign to Regulate and
Tax Marijuana
BOSTONTen Massachusetts legislators today announced their
endorsement of the Yes on Question 4 Campaign, which is backing a
November ballot measure to regulate and tax marijuana. The
legislators cited social justice, the ability to generate significant new
tax revenues and the decades-long failure of prohibition among their
reasons.
It's time we got this over with, said Sen. Will Brownsberger (DBelmont), Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.
The prohibition approach to the control of marijuana use just has not
worked.
Rep. David Rogers (D-Cambridge), agreed: Despite decades of current
policy, nothing has changed and the time has long since come to take
a more realistic approach. By regulating and taxing the sale of
marijuana in the Commonwealth we will allow law enforcement to
focus on serious crimes, raise substantial revenue, and all but
eliminate a dangerous black market.
Rep. Marjorie C. Decker (D-Cambridge), pointed out that prohibition
has disproportionately affected individuals from low-income and
minority communities. She cited a 2014 ACLU study showing that
African-Americans in Massachusetts are 3.9 times more likely to be
arrested for marijuana offenses than whites, despite similar use
patterns. While one may not personally approve of marijuana use, we
have a responsibility to look at its regulation in a broader context. The

current rules are in stark contrast to how other legal drugs, such as
alcohol, are regulated. I also believe this new form of regulation will
improve education of young people about all types of drug use.
Rep. Tom Sannicandro (D-Framingham), House Chairman of the Harm
Reduction Caucus and House Chairman of the Joint Committee on
Higher Education, said ending marijuana prohibition would allow the
state to move toward a less punitive drug policy embracing evidence
and data as a roadmap. Changing the way we think about drug policy
will help reduce mass incarceration while undermining the
underground economy and increasing tax revenue to more effectively
serve our communities, Sannicandro said.
Also endorsing the measure were Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Cambridge), Sen.
Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton), Rep. Michael Moran (D-Brighton), Rep. Jay
Livingstone (D-Boston), Rep. Brian Mannal (D-Centerville) and Rep.
Mary Keefe (D-Worcester).
Were proud to have these far-sighted leaders with us as we work to
inform voters about how Question 4 will benefit Massachusetts and
about the success of regulated systems in other states, said Yes on 4
communications director Jim Borghesani. These elected officials
recognize the failure of prohibition and they understand why regulating
and taxing marijuana is the best path forward.
-- end -The Yes on Question 4 Campaign is supporting a 2016 statewide ballot
initiative to regulate and tax marijuana in Massachusetts. For more
information, visit http://www.RegulateMassachusetts.org

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