Election Ballot Debate Series: Should Mass. Legalize Recreational Marijuana?

Part 4 of our special four-week Election Ballot Debate Series, hosted with the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston and The Boston Globe. 

We discuss ballot Question 4, which proposes a change to the state's marijuana laws. Massachusetts decriminalized possession of marijuana in 2008 and medical marijuana was legalized in 2012. This November's ballot question would legalize recreational marijuana.

According to the ballot language: "A yes vote would allow persons 21 and older to possess, use, and transfer marijuana and products containing marijuana concentrate (including edible products) and to cultivate marijuana, all in limited amounts, and would provide for the regulation and taxation of commercial sale of marijuana and marijuana products."

Conversely: "A no vote would make no change in current laws relative to marijuana."

We asked the two groups involved in this issue to offer their representative to participate in this debate.

You can listen to the debate with the play button atop this post, or rewatch it below:

Jim Borghesani, communications director for "Yes on 4," president of Primepoint Strategic Media. They tweet @RegulateMass.

Jason Lewis, state senator, co-chair of the Legislature’s Public Health Committee and chair of the Special Senate Committee on Marijuana; Steering Committee member of the "No on 4" Campaign. They tweet @SafeHealthyMA.

-- Question 2: Should Mass. Lift The Cap On Charter Schools?

-- Question 3: Should Mass. Ban Some Confinement Of Certain Farm Animals?

-- Question 1: Should Mass. Allow A Second Slots Parlor License?