South Shore Chamber Board votes to oppose ballot initiative that would legazlize use of marijuana

ROCKLAND, Mass. - Oct. 18, 2016 - PRLog -- The South Shore Chamber of Commerce (http://southshorechamber.org), has voted to recommend a "no" vote on the Massachusetts Ballot initiative that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana.

Presently, in Massachusetts, use of marijuana for certain medical reasons is permitted. This November ballot initiative, if approved, would greatly expand production and sales to include recreational use.

Peter Forman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce,

said the Chamber is concerned about Massachusetts being one of pioneering states to deal with concerns from legalization.  "The introduction of THC, the active component of marijuana, into edible food products and how those are marketed, especially towards younger users is a concern.  Increased use and addiction among individuals and the impact on our local communities can't be overlooked and the Chamber feels this is an area where we can happily watch other states and cities experiment with the impacts before we legalize it here,"  Forman said.

He also pointed out that federal laws will still treat production and sale as a crime.

Forman said he is not surprised that the Chamber and other business organizations are beginning to take a position against an issue that isn't normally seen as a business issue. "A growing number of business leaders are concerned about the social and health care costs related to substance abuse.  While there is debate over how addictive THC products may be and what the relationship might be between THC and more harmful drugs we are happy to let other states explore those problems.  We lose no economic competitive advantage by letting other states step out first on this matter," he said.

The Board's vote came on the recommendation of the Chamber's Government Affairs Committee, which heard from both supporters and opponents.

About the South Shore Chamber of Commerce

The South Shore Chamber of Commerce has long been recognized throughout the state as one of the most active and forceful advocates for the business community and numbers among the larger Chambers of Commerce nationally. The South Shore Chamber is a not-for-profit association of businesses in the communities south of Boston. It is committed to helping its members grow their businesses and to improve the business climate in the region. Members range in size from major international corporations headquartered on the South Shore to small local firms and sole proprietorships. For additional information on the Chamber, please visit www.southshorechamber.org or call 781-421-3900.