Massachusetts’ largest employer trade group has come out against marijuana legalization, joining a growing list of influential organizations and individuals that are opposing an attempt to pass adult-use cannabis in the state.
The expanding anti-legalization coalition underscores that success at the ballot box is by no means guaranteed, even though overall support for marijuana legalization in the country is growing.
Associated Industries of Massachusetts announced this week that 62% of its members oppose the marijuana legalization measure, while 32% said they would vote in favor of it.
“The legalization of marijuana in Massachusetts would create considerable uncertainty for employers relative to their legal rights and obligations, particularly as relates to workplace drug policies,” Lord wrote in a letter.
Earlier this month, the boards of the Massachusetts Sherriff’s Association and the Massachusetts Hospital Association both voted unanimously against the legalization ballot measure, while the head of a special state senate marijuana study committee also came out against it.
The measure is currently in the state legislature, which has until May 3 to either pass it as a law or take no action, which would force ballot backers to gather 10,792 more signatures by July 6 to get the measure on the ballot in November.
