Pubdate: Sun, 17 Apr 2016
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2016 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact: http://services.bostonglobe.com/news/opeds/letter.aspx?id=6340
Website: http://bostonglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Author: Dan Adams

MASS. BUSINESSES LAISSEZ-FAIRE ON MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

So far, just one major statewide business group, the Associated 
Industries of Massachusetts, has decided to oppose the measure.

Jon Hurst isn't afraid to take a stand. As president of the Retailers 
Association of Massachusetts, it's his job to fight for the interests 
of the 4,000 businesses he represents.

But when it comes to legalizing marijuana, he's torn - as are many 
leaders of Boston-area business groups.

"How can you separate your own personal feelings and experiences from 
the economic and political concerns?" Hurst said, acknowledging that 
he indulged a few times as a college student in the 1970s. "It's 
unlike anything I've dealt with in 25 years in this business."

The campaign for a state ballot initiative that would allow the sale 
of marijuana to adults had little organized opposition until 
Thursday, when Governor Charlie Baker, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, 
and House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo launched a political organization 
to defeat it. But so far, it seems they're unlikely to get the active 
backing of the Retailers Association and other business groups, whose 
money and numbers could give the opposition more political muscle.

Essentially, business leaders said, their members are just not that 
worked up over the initiative - pro or con.

"To be real honest, I haven't spent any time thinking about this," 
said James Rooney, chief executive of the Greater Boston Chamber of 
Commerce. "It's just not something that has created any amount of 
focus among my members or the larger business community."

So far, just one major statewide business group, the Associated 
Industries of Massachusetts, has decided to oppose the measure.

"Our concerns are twofold," said Chris Geehern, AIM's executive vice 
president of marketing and communications. "On-the-job impairment, 
particularly at trucking and construction companies, and businesses 
getting caught in the netherworld between state law that permits 
[marijuana] use and federal law that prohibits its use."

But the leaders of other groups representing thousands of businesses, 
including Hurst's and Rooney's, the state chapter of the National 
Federation of Independent Business, and the Alliance for Business 
Leadership, said their members have other priorities and are likely 
to stay on the sidelines, despite sharing some of AIM's concerns.

In contrast, a ballot initiative that would lift the statutory cap on 
charter schools is strongly backed by a coalition of business groups, 
including AIM and the Boston Chamber.

Opponents of legalization said that while business groups might not 
fight the measure, none is likely to endorse it either.

"The fact that business associations are not supporting commercial 
marijuana contradicts the industry's arguments that it is good for 
the Massachusetts economy," said Corey Welford , a spokesman for the 
newly formed opposition group, Campaign for a Safe and Healthy Massachusetts.

The marijuana initiative proposes legalizing sales to anyone older 
than 21 beginning in January 2018. It would also enact a tax on sales 
of cannabis products and create regulations that would be enforced by 
a newly formed Cannabis Control Commission. Proponents are gathering 
signatures to place it on the ballot in November.

Recreational marijuana is legal in four states and the District of 
Columbia; a number of states, including California and Nevada, are 
poised to vote on recreational marijuana this year. If adopted in 
Massachusetts, proponents claim the industry would eventually 
generate $1.1 billion in annual sales.

The Retailers Association conducted an informal poll of its members 
and found that 60 percent want the group to oppose the ballot 
measure. But, Hurst said, many of those same businesses admitted 
legal marijuana would probably not hurt their bottom line and could 
even help the state's economy. Meanwhile, nearly a quarter of his 
members called for the association to endorse legalization, with some 
predicting it would actually boost their profits.

Lacking a clear mandate, and with polls of voters showing the 
initiative will probably succeed, Hurst said his group will "probably 
stay neutral."

"Even if we oppose it, I doubt we'd be out raising money or doing 
speaking engagements like we have on other initiatives."

The Massachusetts chapter of the National Federation of Independent 
Business, which represents about 8,000 small companies, also expects 
to stay out of the fray.

"I call my small businesses the 'leave me alone' coalition," said 
Bill Vernon, the group's director and a former Republican state 
representative. "I think you'll see they have a libertarian view" on marijuana.

Vernon said he holds conservative values and is thinking about voting 
against the measure. On the other hand, he noted he attended college 
from 1969 to 1973, and that while he himself has never smoked, "I'm a 
product of my age: 'Live and let live and let people do what they want.' "

At the Boston Chamber, Rooney said he is personally leaning against 
legalization, but sounded nothing like a strident opponent. And he's 
barely heard a peep from his 1,500 members about it.

If the measure passes, Rooney said he would probably welcome 
marijuana businesses into the chamber.

"Over time, if [marijuana] is a legal form of business and they want 
to join, why not?" Rooney shrugged. "In fact, it may be a good thing. 
What happens in organizations like ours is a great deal of dialogue 
and an exchange of ideas, interests, and concerns. That's the right approach."

Proponents with the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol are 
eager to portray cannabis industry businesses as job-generators and 
responsible corporate citizens.

Kris Krane, managing partner at a venture capital firm that invests 
in cannabis companies, 4Front Ventures, said the stigma around 
marijuana is quickly fading in the business community.

"A lot of business people want to know how to get into the industry 
because they understand it could be huge," Krane said.

However, several business groups said they share a concern about 
legalized pot: what to do with employees who show up to work high. 
They said there doesn't appear to be a reliable test to determine 
whether an employee is impaired by marijuana. Existing tests only 
detect whether someone has used the drug at some point in recent weeks.

Academic researchers have proposed different "functional" tests of 
impairment, including a smartphone app that tests working memory. But 
none has gained widespread adoption, and it's unclear whether such 
methods would stand up in court.

"If a test existed now that could guide employers, that would be a 
significant development," Geehern said. "But it doesn't."

AIM hasn't yet decided how much money to commit to the antimarijuana 
campaign. But its leaders have invited the other business groups to a 
meeting in May, hoping to persuade them to join the opposition.

Another worry of business groups is that a marijuana shop next door 
could scare away their members' customers. They also fear getting 
caught between state and federal law, which still bans marijuana.

Krane, the venture investor, said those concerns are valid, 
especially regarding on-the-job impairment. He and other supporters 
want to discuss the issue with business leaders.

"I don't want my employees showing up impaired either," Krane said. 
"But I think the vast majority of people in society recognize that 
regulation is the way to strike a balance between individual liberty, 
the liberty and comfort of others, and the efficiency of business."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom