Two of the country’s most liberal states may go opposite ways Tuesday on whether to legalize pot.
California and Massachusetts are among eight states with ballot initiatives to approve the use of marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes. Voters in a ninth state, Montana, will consider whether to ease restrictions on an existing medical marijuana law.
In general, legalizing marijuana has more opposition in states with an older and more conservative demographic, making it less likely the measures will succeed in Montana, North Dakota, Arkansas, Florida and Arizona.
But while Massachusetts is among the bluer states where the issue polls well, with about 50 percent supporting it, the Catholic Church is pouring last-minute money into defeating it there, and some high-ranking state officials oppose it as well.
The Archdiocese of Boston gave $850,000 to the committee against the ballot initiative, making it the second-largest contributor in opposition. Only Las Vegas billionaire Sheldon Adelson has given more in Massachusetts to defeat it.
Top political leaders including Gov. Charlie Baker, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and state Attorney General Maura Healey have spoken against the measure, saying that its provision allowing people to grow up to 12 marijuana plants in their own homes would make it too easy for children to access the drug.
And in some ways, Massachusetts is more conservative and health-conscious than other liberal states. The state has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the country, it is home to some of the country’s best hospitals and healthcare providers hold a lot of sway there.
“There are social steps New Englanders are very happy to make in progressive ways, and other things they’re hesitant to move forward with,” said John Hudak, a Brookings Institution fellow who specializes in marijuana policy.
California’s ballot measure has far fewer obstacles. For two decades, the state has allowed marijuana use for medical purposes. And supporters have poured $22 million into getting it passed, compared to just $2 million spent by opponents.
A few leading Democrats oppose the measure, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has long opposed marijuana legalization and says the California proposal lacks sufficient protections for children. Gov. Jerry Brown hasn’t taken a position.
But there’s strong support among the public: Fifty-eight percent of likely voters support the measure and 37 percent oppose it, according to a Los Angeles Times poll released this week. Voters under age 30 are most enthused, with 74 percent saying they support legalizing recreational marijuana.
“California has had medical marijuana for more than 20 years, so I think people have gotten a little more used to it and are more comfortable with it,” said Morgan Fox, a spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project.
The Marijuana Policy Project is the main funder for the legalization measures, which supporters expect to pass in not only California, but also in Maine and Nevada. Fox acknowledges the cause faces strong opposition from law enforcement and the alcohol industry, which views pot as competition, but feels there’s reason for strong optimism as it gets wide support from young people.
“Younger people have much better ways of getting new information,” Fox said. “They haven’t been exposed to decades of misinformation about the relative harms of marijuana.”
