Pot camp gets petty

Don’t like the message? Well, for the folks behind a campaign to legalize the recreational use of marijuana the answer is just to shoot the messenger.

The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has filed a petty complaint with state campaign finance regulators, alleging that Walpole Police Chief John Carmichael violated state rules by appearing at an event sponsored by a group opposed to the pro-pot ballot question, in uniform and during work hours.

The group alleges Carmichael broke the rules by engaging in political advocacy. And had he shown up at the June 23 event and explicitly called on voters to reject the November ballot question, maybe they’d have an argument.

But Carmichael says his role at the event was limited to educating the public about the danger of edible products containing marijuana, based in part on a recent fact-finding visit to Colorado.

And he understands the difference.

“I’m not here to tell anybody how to vote. That’s not up to me,” Carmichael told MassLive.

Carmichael is within his rights to make such a presentation if he is acting within the scope of his official responsibilities. And as a law enforcement professional his views are no secret. He is co-chair of the Mass. Chiefs of Police Association’s substance abuse committee, and sits on several others.

The pro-pot’s campaign seems centered around the belief that, well, legalization would be really cool for people who like to smoke (or vape, or eat) pot. That’s fine, but critics have a long list of compelling arguments for why legalization is unwise — and seeking to muzzle an expert who makes that argument publicly carries the pungent odor of desperation.