A spokesman for 'Yes on 4,' the group behind the ballot question legalizing marijuana in Massachusetts, says he's concerned after four of the five appointees to the new Cannabis Control Commission opposed the measure.
Massachusetts passed Question 4, which broadly legalized marijuana for adults ages 21 and up, by a 54 to 46 percent vote.
"The Cannabis Control Commission does not reflect the Massachusetts electorate," Jim Borghesani, the spokesman for "Yes on 4," told reporters on Friday, after the remaining members of the commission were announced.
During the campaign, proponents said legalization will provide new revenue to the state while driving down the black market, while opponents argued the ballot question was flawed and written as a giveaway to a new marijuana industry.
The Cannabis Control Commission will oversee the retail marijuana shops and the medical marijuana program, which is getting rolled under their control from the state Department of Public Health.
Just one of the five members voted "yes" on Question 4 - and she helped co-write it: Shaleen Title, co-founder of cannabis recruiting firm THC Staffing Group.
The other four members voted "no." They are the chairman, Steven Hoffman; former state Sen. Jen Flanagan; former Department of Public Health official Kay Doyle; and former assistant attorney general Britte McBride.
Their "no" votes mean they voted against the creation of the positions they now hold.
"It would be reassuring to have statements from each of the people who voted no that they would in no way let their personal position would affect their work," Borghesani said. "That would make us feel a lot more comfortable."
Borghesani also voiced a fear of additional delays to the marijuana regulatory structure that the commission is tasked with assembling.
"We already had a six month delay in Massachusetts," Borghesani said, referring to state legislators passing a law that pushed the opening of retail pot shops from January 2018 to July 2018. "We don't want any more delays."
Gov. Charlie Baker and lawmakers said the delay was necessary in order to rewrite the flawed law passed by voters. In the rewrite, the commission was made more independent, instead of directly under the treasurer's office, and its membership expanded from three to five.
In the release announcing the selection of Doyle and Title, Baker said, "Executing the duties of the commission responsibly is vital to safely laying the groundwork for this new industry in the Commonwealth."
Borghesani praised Title, the one commission member with experience in the nascent marijuana industry.
"I know Shaleen, I think she's a wonderful pick for this board and I think she'll do a good job making sure everybody is rowing in the same direction," he said.