Massachusetts Senators Visit CO to Learn About Rec

A group of eight Massachusetts lawmakers are visiting Colorado this week to learn about the recreational marijuana industry in case voters in their state approve a legalization ballot measure this November.

But they’re not there necessarily because they like the idea of legalization.

Rather, lawmakers said they want to learn from Colorado’s experience, saying they will be ready to draft their own laws to change aspects of the legalization measure they don’t like, the Boston Globe reported.

The lawmakers will meet with Andrew Freedman, Colorado’s first director of marijuana coordination; Larry Wolk, the executive director and chief medical officer of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and law enforcement officials. The will also hear from officials from Washington State’s cannabis program, according to WBUR.

Massachusetts’ ballot measure was certified by the secretary of state last month. Unless the state legislature approves it by May 3, backers will need to collect 10,792 signatures to send it to voters in November.

The New York-based Milbank Memorial Fund, which describes itself as a nonpartisan health policy foundation, arranged and paid for the trip.