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House approves bill to replace marijuana law

BOSTON — The Massachusetts House has approved a bill that would repeal and replace the recreational marijuana law approved by the state's voters.

The 126-28 vote came Wednesday night after several hours of discussion.

Democratic Rep. Mark Cusack is House chairman of the Legislature's Marijuana Policy Committee. He says the bill makes "sensible and practical" improvements to the November ballot question that legalized adult use of pot.

The bill would raise the tax on retail marijuana sales from 12 percent to 28 percent. It also calls for stringent background checks and fingerprinting for people who own or work in licensed marijuana-related businesses. It would give municipal officials more power to ban pot shops from their communities.

House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said the bill is following through on a commitment they made.

“This bill reflects a commitment to legalizing adult-use marijuana while upholding our duty to ensure safety and effective management. The House placed a premium on health and safety. In addition to the rigorous product testing and security measures, I believe that the independence of the Cannabis Control Commission will allow this new industry to be implemented in a safe and efficient manner.”

Critics have lashed out at the proposal, saying it ignores the will of the electorate.

The Senate on Thursday is scheduled to take up a more modest set of changes, setting the stage for negotiations between the two chambers on a compromise version.