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To the Editor:
With November 8th quickly approaching, I feel compelled to express my opinion to our residents regarding ballot Question 4. If people want to smoke marijuana in their homes, they can do that now. Marijuana was decriminalized in 2008 so the police may no longer arrest for possession, search cars for it, etc. The ballot question is about allowing commercial marijuana sales in shops in cities and towns. Question 4 would specifically allow anyone to grow marijuana in their homes.
Marijuana is a harmful drug. Research has shown that long term marijuana use impairs the cognitive abilities of those who use it.
Colorado and Washington state have already enacted similar marijuana laws, and they have been a disaster. Traffic fatalities in both states where motorists were high on marijuana have gone up. Legalization in those states has not crippled the black market. In fact, in Colorado they have experienced drug trafficking organizations moving into the state to grow and sell marijuana. Colorado is number one in the nation for adolescent marijuana use. In Colorado, people claiming a problem with heavy marijuana use are clogging their drug treatment system.
Experts agree that the taxation of marijuana would not be enough to keep up with the cost that commercial sales would bring.
The marijuana industry has already spent $5 million trying to convince voters to vote yes on Question 4. The vast majority of this money is coming from out of state.
Were question 4 to pass, it would be bad for our children and future generations.
Police Chief Alan Gordon
Westborough Police Department
