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Following the Correct Course

Guilford shouldn’t implement a permanent ban on marijuana. That’s bad for business and doesn’t follow the data. First, proponents of the ban have suggested that banning marijuana-related establishments is imperative to send a message about its dangers to kids. Alcohol is highly addictive, leads to increased violent behavior, and according to the National Institutes of Health, about 95,000 people die from alcohol-related causes annually, making it the third-leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. Are we going to ban alcohol-selling establishments to send a message as a result? No, of course not. Prohibition is an ineffective messaging tool. A well-regulated market accompanied by a robust educational component is a safer alternative. We should de-stigmatize dialogue around marijuana use so we can have healthy conversations as a community.

Second, a ban wouldn’t make financial sense. The legalization law includes a three percent sales tax paid to the municipality in which the marijuana was sold. It wouldn’t make sense to forgo the extra revenue stream here in Guilford, especially since we’ll be dealing with legal marijuana anyway. The financial impact is larger than the tax revenue. An innovative market is booming surrounding legalization for a variety of products and establishments and Guilford should be included.

Finally, marijuana consumption isn’t exclusively negative. Addiction and use disorders are complex and look different for everybody. Marijuana can serve as a healthier alternative to other substances, alcohol included. Members of my family who’ve really struggled with alcohol use disorder have found relief and healing through legal marijuana consumption. After years of inability to control drinking, including seeking treatment, legal marijuana has finally brought them healing in an alcohol-free life.

Guilford is following the correct course: a temporary pause to develop regulations that ensure a well-regulated marijuana market will fit in and thrive here.

Blaize Levitan

Guilford