Senate Leader Sees Changes in Voter-Backed Pot Measure

BOSTON (AP) — A top state lawmaker says “improvements” are needed in the voter-approved initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in Massachusetts.

Democratic Senate President Stan Rosenberg told reporters on Thursday that taxes, edible products such as those in the form of candy and the prospect of more people driving while under the influence of marijuana are areas that could be addressed when the Legislature returns to session in January.

A spokesman for the group that sponsored Tuesday’s ballot question pushed back, saying lawmakers are moving too quickly toward making changes and should slow down out of respect to the will of the voters.

Rosenberg, who supported passage of Question 4, said he believed most voters approved of legalizing recreational marijuana “in principle,” without studying specific details of the more than 9,000-word proposal.