Weeks ago, news broke that Portland, Maine, had become the first city in the Northeast that legalized marijuana for recreational use. The excitement of social change in New England, unfortunately, did not last too long. Although the popular vote wanted to legalize the drug, the Maine Legislative Council did not pass the motion.
According to NORML.org—Working to Reform Marijuana Laws—NORML Communications Director, Erik Altieri, reported that the Maine Legislative Council had a tied vote, which means the motion will not be passed until consideration at another session. It is understandable that some may be hesitant about legalizing a drug that was deemed illegal, however if the majority is voting for marijuana to be legalized, why are the people in charge not abiding?
This is an industry that shows extreme growth for the millennium generation. When electing politicians, most citizens are concerned with adding work opportunities certainly for students just graduating from college, and yet we are avoiding an industry right before us. Many of my postgraduate friends are flocking to the West Coast to pursue ventures in these up-and-coming business opportunities. If we were to legalize marijuana in the United States, more jobs would open up for farmers, bakers, shop owners, glass blowers and many more. These people would be able to start a small business, and in return, help the community out and create more livelihood.
Emma Contic / Graphics Editor: The debate to legalize marijuana takes precedent as more states start to consider legalizing the drug for recreational use.
According to the McClatchy Washington bureau website, Rob Hotakainen reported that starting the first of January, Colorado is expecting more than 100 retail marijuana stores to open.
He wrote, “The official openings will come more than a year after state voters approved a plan to begin taxing and selling marijuana, much like alcohol. And many of the new pot stores will be medical dispensaries that will now have a much larger clientele.”
According to PRWeb, Mason Tvert, who last year helped co-direct the campaign to push the legalization of marijuana in the state of Colorado, said, “For the first time in history, those who sell marijuana are receiving licenses from the state instead of rap sheets.”
Hotakainen also reported that like Colorado, Washington state just started accepting applications for retail marijuana stores and expect more than three hundred by late spring. Both states have legalized marijuana for recreational use and 20 other states legalized marijuana for medical use.
Another article by Hotakainen with the McClatchy Washington Bureau quoted former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., who is leading Officials with Project SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana). Kennedy was quoted saying, “Maine is on the brink of creating a massive marijuana industry that will inevitability target teens and other vulnerable populations.” How are the media and what is available on the internet any different in already targeting teens and other “vulnerable” populations, and for that matter, who is to say that marijuana will really influence teens. What exactly will it influence them to do?
Again, Hotakainen quoted Tvert the communications director for the Marijuana Policy Project in Denver. She said, “Colorado is demonstrating to the rest of the nation that it is possible to end marijuana prohibition and successfully regulate marijuana like alcohol.”
Tobacco users are heavily taxed on their cigarettes, just as marijuana could be if legalized in more states. According to norml.org, marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug behind alcohol and tobacco. When compared to both alcohol and tobacco, marijuana should not be considered more dangerous than the other two. The site also reads that 25 million Americans have smoked marijuana and 14 million continue to use marijuana , though the law prohibits it.
More than anything, the debate of the recreational use of marijuana needs to happen. This is something that affects many, and both those in favor and not in favor need to explain their views.
According to learnaboutsam.com, Project SAM created SAM Maine weeks ago with the goals, “To inform public policy with the science of today’s marijuana; To prevent the establishment of “Big Marijuana” [and to prevent] a twenty-first century tobacco industry that would market marijuana to children; To promote research for marijuana’s medical properties and produce, non-smoked, non-psychoactive pharmacy–attainable medications; To have an adult conversation about reducing the unintended consequences of current marijuana policies, such as lifelong stigma due to arrest.”
Hotakainen said pro-marijuana groups such as the Marijuana Policy Project have targeted 13 more states to attempt to legalize marijuana by 2017. Those states include Alaska, Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Vermont, Rhode Island and finally, New Hampshire.
Let us ponder whether the recreational use or medical use will help create new opportunities for this country and for our communities. If so, let us speak out about making these changes.
Brittany Murphy can be contacted at opinions@keene-equinox.com