Baker, Walsh Hypocritical In Opposing Recreational Marijuana Legalization, Group Says
BOSTON (AP) — A group supporting legalized use of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts said Friday that Gov. Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh are being hypocritical by supporting more liquor licenses while opposing the pot initiative.
The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol leveled the charge one day after Baker, Walsh and other top officials announced formation of a committee to fight a likely November ballot question that would allow Massachusetts residents 21 and older to possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana.
The group unveiled a poster outside the Statehouse showing the faces of Baker and Walsh, who is a recovering alcoholic, with a speech bubble that read: "Our Health Policy: Drink More Alcohol."
Will Luzier, campaign manager for the pro-marijuana group, said pot was less toxic and less addictive than alcohol "and does not contribute to violent or risky behavior."
Lizzy Guyton, a spokeswoman for the governor, said Baker believes voters should get more than "unfortunate and insensitive attacks from those seeking to open a new billion-dollar commercial marijuana industry in the Commonwealth."
There was no immediate response from the mayor.
Luzier said Baker and Walsh have backed legislation that would relax the state's liquor licensing rules to potentially allow more establishments to open. Walsh, a Democrat, has also proposed a later closing time for Boston bars while Baker, a Republican, supported a 2010 ballot question that repealed the state sales tax on alcohol, which is also subject to excise taxes, he said.
Luzier defended the depiction of Walsh in the poster.
"I know Mayor Walsh personally and his advocacy for the expansion of operating hours for alcohol establishments and the expansion of licenses in the city of Boston, I believe, are in conflict with his position as a recovering alcoholic," he said.
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