Regulating marijuana would benefit all in RI

Posted 12/4/14

To the Editor:

Polls show that a growing majority of Rhode Islanders has changed their views about marijuana policy. Many realize that it is wrongheaded to continue punishing adults who consume …

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Regulating marijuana would benefit all in RI

Posted

To the Editor:

Polls show that a growing majority of Rhode Islanders has changed their views about marijuana policy. Many realize that it is wrongheaded to continue punishing adults who consume marijuana responsibly given that every objective scientific study has found that marijuana is a far less harmful substance than alcohol. 

Fortunately, lawmakers in the General Assembly are beginning to conform to the will of the voters. The Marijuana Regulation, Control and Taxation Act, introduced in 2014 and very likely to reappear in 2015, would end the senseless policy of marijuana prohibition and establish a system to allow adults 21 and older to purchase small amounts of marijuana from licensed, tightly regulated businesses.

I, like many, had heard of the effort to legalize and regulate marijuana but was unsure how it would affect me or why I should even be in favor of the effort. Then during the last legislative session I was afforded the opportunity to become more educated on the issue and learned that regulating marijuana is sound policy that will have a positive effect on all Rhode Islanders. 

Under our current policy of marijuana prohibitions, we waste vast amounts of law enforcement resources by targeting marijuana users; so it stands to reason that safety in our communities would increase if those resources are able to be redirected to more serious issues like solving murders and stopping violence. Ending the marijuana prohibition here in Rhode Island will allow us to focus on more serious public safety issues.

Lastly, it is worth noting that Rhode Island taxpayers are paying for our ongoing “War on Marijuana.” In 2010 Rhode Island spent nearly $12 million enforcing the marijuana prohibition. Not to mention the fact that we are losing out on tens of millions of dollars in additional tax revenue every year by not taxing marijuana. I was pleased to read that the “Marijuana Regulation, Control and Taxation Act” would direct 40 percent of the tax revenue towards education and treatment services for individuals and families dealing with substance use disorders.

Continuing to spend tax dollars on a failed policy that a large majority of Rhode Islanders oppose is an irresponsible use of public resources. I hope you will join me in urging your elected officials to pass the “Marijuana Regulation, Control and Taxation Act” in 2015. 

James W. Lyons

Warwick

Comments

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  • RoyDempsey

    Fortunately, there are some leaders that are waiting to see the outcomes from legalization in other states before acting to legalize in Rhode Island. At that point a more informed decision, and not one based on meaningless, unsupported statements as found in this letter to the editor can be made.

    Thursday, December 4, 2014 Report this

  • The Berg

    Fortunately, RoyDempsey, we don't really care if "some leaders" wait and see what someone else is doing. We're going to continue to grow, sell, smoke and enjoy marijuana tax free for as long as "some leaders" don't want our money. I'm curious where you obtain your statistics on cannabis. My guess is it appeared in black and white and was titled "Reefer Madness."

    Thursday, December 4, 2014 Report this

  • RoyDempsey

    Just Google Colorado and Marijuana. Here is one of many outcomes that has been reported.

    GRAND JUNCTION — In two years of work as an undercover officer with a drug task force, Mike Dillon encountered plenty of drugs. But nothing has surprised him as much as what he has seen in schools lately.

    Dillon, who is now a school resource officer with the Mesa County Sheriff's Department, said he is seeing more and younger kids bringing marijuana to schools, in sometimes-surprising quantities.

    "When we have middle school kids show up with a half an ounce, that is shocking to me," Dillon said.

    The same phenomenon is being reported around Colorado after the 2010 regulation of medical marijuana dispensaries and the 2012 vote to legalize recreational marijuana.

    Thursday, December 4, 2014 Report this

  • The Berg

    RoyDempsey, your reliance on a Google search and an abbreviated example of a year plus old Denver Post article isn’t instilling much confidence in your knowledge of the topic. As such, I’ve included a link and snippet from the same publication below, posted Tuesday and updated yesterday. I believe we can both agree no one is advocating recreational cannabis use by minors.

    You recently worked for a candidate with a strong pharmaceutical background that stressed the population decrease of Warwick. Perhaps those that left were recreational and medical marijuana users looking for greener pastures.

    The Berg

    Colorado has become a promised land for desperate parents trying to save their children.

    In the past year-and-a-half, hundreds of families from across the country have uprooted their lives and moved here for a special kind of medical marijuana. They arrive with children suffering from incurable forms of epilepsy, life-threatening disorders with seizures that not only strike every day but also restrain their kids at the developmental level of toddlers.

    The medical marijuana treatment they seek — low in THC and rich in a compound called CBD — is unregulated, and there is little research to guide parents on how often it works. But the happy anecdotes of families who have already tried it encourage even more families to move, creating a growing community of parents who are praying that a federally illegal drug will succeed where traditional pharmaceuticals have failed.

    http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27058546/colorado-becomes-state-hope-parents-seeking-marijuana-miracle

    Thursday, December 4, 2014 Report this

  • RoyDempsey

    I think you have me entirely wrong, Mr. The Berg. I believe that there is research currently going on at NYU regarding marijuana and epilepsy. I hope that research and testing by the FDA does prove that marijuana is the medical breakthrough that people are looking for. However, what is coming out of Colorado is not that type of medical breakthrough that will help these parents. I hope for better then just legalization of what has been determined to be a gateway drug. There is no proven medical in medical marijuana right now. That is why it is an illegal drug.

    Thursday, December 4, 2014 Report this

  • davebarry109

    Mr. Lyons repeats the lies of the pot heads across the country who have been trying to legalize their pet drugs for decades. Law enforcment does not 'waste time' on pot arrests. Police time is not distributed like a manufacturing plant where you can free up an officer from pot to work on violent crime. Violent crimes always get worked on before other crimes. I have no idea how the author comes up with 12million dollars spent on enforceing marijuana laws and neither does he. It's an estimate at best and I'm sure it is far from reality. Police departments don't track such things.

    People will still sell marijuana to avoid the government tax. It has created a huge black market in Colorado. Anyone buying this authors crap is already high.

    Friday, December 5, 2014 Report this

  • JaredMoffat

    Way to go Mr. Lyons! A solid common sense argument for ending an archaic, costly, and bizarre policy. I'll respond quickly to a few of the critics.

    1. We have already "waited and seen" long enough to know that prohibition is the worst possible policy when it comes to marijuana. Do you think alcohol prohibition was a good policy? If not, why would you support marijuana prohibition, which simply creates a violent, illicit marijuana market. Virtually every doomsday scenario that opponents predicted in Colorado has proven to be unfounded: crime has not increased; their tourism industry is stronger than every; overall highway traffic fatalities are below the previous ten-year average; and teen marijuana use appears to be trending downward. The regulated marijuana sector has created thousands of jobs and generated tens of millions of dollars in additional revenue. All these facts are widely known and available if you look for them.

    2. Since the war on drugs began in the early 1970's, the clearance rate (i.e. the number of crimes solved) for murder and violent crime have gone down — just go look at the FBI crime statistics. There's no question that focusing on marijuana arrests has distracted law enforcement and criminal justice resources away from serious crime. The $12 million that Mr. Lyons cites as being spent in RI to enforce marijuana prohibition is from an ACLU report (https://www.aclu.org/criminal-law-reform/war-marijuana-black-and-white-report). If you disagree with the number, please explain why their methodology is flawed and provide your own estimate of how much is spent enforcing this clearly ineffective law. Even if we spent $10,000 enforcing marijuana prohibition, do you think it would be worth it?

    3. Regulating marijuana has not "created a huge black market in Colorado." That's simply false, and I challenge anyone to provide evidence that that has happened. Marijuana prohibition created the black market (again, just like alcohol prohibition), and regulating marijuana is now shrinking the criminal market. If the black market has grown, how do you explain the $45 million in tax revenue that CO has brought in so far this year from legal marijuana sales? There are reports now that regulate marijuana in the US is undercutting the Mexican drug cartels (http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/12/01/367802425/legal-pot-in-the-u-s-may-be-undercutting-mexican-marijuana#). Taking control away from criminals and putting marijuana behind the counter of tightly regulated, licensed business makes us all safer.

    The bottom line is that being opposed to a system of regulation for marijuana means you support criminals controlling the market. We as a country decided that wasn't the right way to go for alcohol, so why would we continue that failed policy for marijuana?

    Friday, December 5, 2014 Report this

  • JaredMoffat

    It's also telling that opponents have to resort to name-calling. That's indicative of not having a strong argument on their side. A clear majority of Americans and Rhode Islanders support ending marijuana prohibition — and the vast majority of those supporters do not use marijuana regularly.

    Friday, December 5, 2014 Report this

  • The Berg

    Davebarry109, according to the Department of Corrections, incarcerating those with only drug offenses hit $19.5 million in Rhode Island in 2010, while drug cases, from possession of marijuana to felony narcotics cases, cost a total of $8.2 million in the same fiscal year. Those figures do NOT include any law enforcement activities. That’s throwing good money after bad.

    Given your propensity to make consistently outlandish comments on www.warwickonline.com, one can only wonder what your drug of choice is.

    The Berg Strikes Again

    Friday, December 5, 2014 Report this

  • RoyDempsey

    Gee, The Berg Strikes Again. It looks like you a have a propensity to slander people. See your previous post. But, your comment "only drug offenses" shows where you are coming from. Mr. davebarry109 makes a point that has been brought out in testimony numerous times, that law enforcement does not waste time on pot arrests. That would make your numbers not a range of possession of marijuana to felony narcotics cases but the impact of felony cases alone. Very serious business and very costly to say the least. And as you said, which I will take as accurate, that number does not include the costs of law enforcement in getting these law breakers off our streets.

    Friday, December 5, 2014 Report this

  • The Berg

    RoyDempsey, is that you, back from your Google search? Slander is referring to an argument as the “lies of the pot heads,” which Davebarry109 so eloquently wrote. Questioning his drug choice, whether that be caffeine, nicotine, or heroin, seemed logical given his frequent comments.

    You speak of felony narcotics cases. In Rhode Island, one could be charged with a felony for growing a single cannabis plant in a back yard garden, punishable with a possible maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment and a possible maximum fine of $100,000. Grow too many and one could face a life sentence. Realistically, those sentences may or may not ever be imposed, but the risk is there because the ridiculous laws are there.

    For decades Rhode Island law enforcement officials did “waste time on pot arrests.” The damage those arrests caused can still be seen by those who were incarcerated, as well as their future employment opportunities.

    Sinking battleships,

    The Berg

    Friday, December 5, 2014 Report this

  • RoyDempsey

    Last Post. As of this point, there is no FDA Approved medical use regarding marijuana. Hopefully, research will reward us and particularly those families that were mentioned earlier with the breakthrough that they are looking for. Hey, we have a medical school and top notch hospitals here in Rhode Island. Maybe that research could take place here.

    Friday, December 5, 2014 Report this

  • The Berg

    RoyDempsey, on your last post I can certainly agree. That would be a great opportunity for all parties if we could benefit locally from cannabis research.

    The Berg

    Saturday, December 6, 2014 Report this

  • HerbTokerman

    The FDA has no interest in natural cures for anything, just substances that are patented by corporations that can bribe them. There are a variety of natural substances that are just as effective and less costly than mainstream drugs that are not recommended by doctors.

    For example eating raw garlic will cure almost anything that traditional antibiotics will but you don't see many doctors recommending to go spend $1-$2 on a bulb of garlic and call in a week if you're not feeling better when both insurance companies and drug companies financially benefit off of synthetic compounds.

    Overall fully legalizing Marijuana is long overdue. It's less harmful than both alcohol and tobacco and it turns otherwise law abiding citizens in to criminals.

    Saturday, December 6, 2014 Report this

  • JohnStark

    Pretty energetic debate here. Nice! Personally, I have no problem at all with legalizing recreational pot use. Nor cocaine or heroin for that matter. As a libertarian, I believe you have every right to poison yourself, if you are an adult.

    At the same time, I would cut any and all substance abuse dollars from state and local budgets, as it is not the responsibility of taxpayers to subsidize your idiotic habits. Furthermore, I would heighten the severity of penalties if you commit a crime or drive while high. Finally, mandatory, random drug tests for anyone receiving any type of public assistance. Your body, your choice, have a blast. Without taxpayer underwriting.

    Tuesday, December 9, 2014 Report this

  • SamPark

    Hey RoyDempsey, no matter what you can come up with, no matter how factual it may be, we can explain it away and spin it back to pro-pot. Is it bad for you? Sure. Will it increase use among children, yes they are future customers. Are things all fine & dandy in Colorado? Oh hell no. Will this replace big tobacco? Yup. Does any of this matter? Nope, not one bit. We the users are a loud and growing base, and the ones we need in our corner to help approve this are going to benefit $$$ on the side so we don't care what you think and we don't need you. It is coming. The sweet smell of that beautiful herb will be wafting from every street of this state, guaranteed. Maybe next year or the year after, but it is coming and you can't stop it. So may as well light one up and pass it around your family. The family that smokes together, chills and is happier together. Wait til you see the advertising planned. Yeeehaw, go RI! Smoke! -411 xoxo

    Tuesday, December 9, 2014 Report this

  • davebarry109

    The ACLU numbers about money spent on incarceration are false where marijuana is concerned. There is no one in prison in RI for simple marijuana possession. Some are serving time after pleading down felony distribution cases so it is not fair to count these as a kid on the block getting busted for a joint. The average person caught with marijuana will never see jail bars. Those on probation, bail, parole, etc. will rightfully get whacked for being criminals.

    Violent crime is not investigated by patrolmen who will be suddently 'freed up' by not enforcing pot smoker arrests. This shows a complete lack of knowledge on how policing works.

    Talk to any drug counselor. Marijuana is in fact a gateway drug. You pot smokers just want to feel good about yourselves so you want society to legalize your pet drug. You'll still be a pot head.

    As for the underground black market in Colorado, it is growing. Tax estimates of over 100 million are now 45 million. The average doper doesn't want to pay tax. There are plenty of dealers that will beat the government price.

    Wednesday, December 10, 2014 Report this

  • SamPark

    Davebarry, you might be completely right, but it doesn't matter! We got the loudest voices! We got the momentum! We got tons of resources backing us! We are winning and we are going to win. For every fact and figure you can put out there, we can counter it with an impressive sounding and seemingly authoritative counterclaim. You got studies, so do we! You got numbers so do we! Anyone can get studies and numbers in their favor if they want. We can paint a picture in our favor just as easily as you can. Accuracy is optional when you're dealing with public opinion, and public opinion sees the temptation of dollar signs who cares if its 45 million instead of 100 million. Who cares if kids get involved they're already doing it that won't change either way. Smoke a bowl will ya, it will help you with this transition. Peace! xoxo

    Wednesday, December 10, 2014 Report this

  • The Berg

    Davebarry109, are you back again with more misinformation? If cannabis is a gateway drug, why aren’t there more cocaine and heroin users? Since 1960, an estimated 107 million Americans have tried cannabis. 37 million have tried cocaine and only an estimated 4 million have tried heroin in the same period. Why aren’t there more of these users?

    I have spoken with accredited drug and addiction counselors, whose valid research debunks your simple gateway argument time and again. You also want us to believe there isn’t ONE Rhode Islander in prison right now for possession of cannabis? Not one???

    We cannabis consumers already feel good about ourselves, Davebarry109, and no “pot head” name calling by you will change that fact. What will change in the future is the stigmatism of identifying cannabis consumers as criminals.

    The Berg

    Wednesday, December 10, 2014 Report this

  • HerbTokerman

    Marijuana is not a gateway drug.

    That theory is based on asking a bunch of crackheads or heroin addicts if they ever smoked marijuana which is like asking an alcoholic that drinks an excessive amount of hard liquor daily if they ever had a beer.

    Going on that line of thinking, beer must be a gateway drug which should also be banned because people might move on to harder things.

    They don't base it by asking random pot smokers if they do crack or heroin, if so they'd find that it's a very small minority that move on to harder substances, most of which have addictive personalities or other underlying personal issues that would have led them to be addicted to something whether it be hard drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, etc.

    That being said, the government does not need more tax dollars to waste.

    We are already some of the highest taxed citizens in the country and all we have to show for it is a crumbling infrastructure, no lights on the highways in downtown providence.. failing schools, cities and towns on the brink of bankruptcy.

    It's decades of mismanagement, not a revenue issue.

    This is more of a personal liberty + freedom issue that our soldiers around the world are fighting for.

    America used to be the land of the free, home of the brave.

    Now it's looking more like the land of the sheep, home of the slaves.

    Wednesday, December 10, 2014 Report this