Question 4 Opponents Speak Out Against Legalizing Marijuana

Opponents of Ballot Question 4, which would legalize the use of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts, held a press conference at the High Point Treatment Center in New Bedford on Tuesday to urge residents to vote against the measure.

Among the speakers was Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito who said the state is already entrenched in a battle against opioids, and doesn't need another mind-altering substance in mass distribution.

"Adding another drug to this mix is only going to increase people's potential for addiction and leading to outcomes that are not safe or healthy and potentially lead to death in too many instances," said Polito.

Bristol County Sheriff Tom Hodgson made similar remarks telling attendees that recreational marijuana does nothing to improve the overall quality of life.

"Why would we want to introduce some additional mind altering drug that will do absolutely nothing to improve the quality of life for our children or for anyone in this country?," said Hodgson "it makes absolutely no sense."

While marijuana legalization advocates often argue that legalizing recreational marijuana would help reduce crime by eliminating a black market Bristol County District Attorney Tom Quinn said that's not necessarily the case.

"Do you think that if this was legalized, nothing's going to happen, that everything's going to stop," said Quinn "can everyone afford to go these retail shops to buy it? There will be a black market that will involve criminal conduct that will go on."

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell and Rev. David Lima also attended the event.