I am sending you this letter to encourage you to support a town wide referendum to let the citizens of our town see if they want the sale of recreational marijuana in our town.
There are some highly qualified citizens who have spoken out against the sale of recreational marijuana in our town, for one, Bernard Roderick a former superintendent of our schools in Fairhaven. No doubt he has had first hand experience with its negative affects. No doubt many others have spoken out because of their experience with it.
I noted that in an article in the 9/13/18 edition of the Neighb News, that [Selectboard] chairman Freitas said that he wished it was available for his parents. While there may be some medical benefits to it, there are many other medicines that are probably much better without its addictive nature.
[I have a close relative who] smokes medical marijuana. I would challenge Mr Freitas to stand next to her when she smokes this medical marijuana and listen to her choke, gag and cough while she smokes it and then how beneficial it is.I have personal experience with this so-called medical marijuana and I can say it’s nothing more than a scam to enrich the sellers and peddlers who only care about their own profit and greed. I have been to these dispensaries. For the most part, the buyers are young people with what I believe an addiction to marijuana with no real medical problems.
You go to a willing doctor, get a prescription, put 150 dollars down at a phony center that issues licenses and you go to the dispensaries, they rake in the cash.
From my stand point and experience with marijuana I can say it’s a very addictive drug, five times stronger than it was 30-40 years ago.
There are many studies that point to its negative effects particularly on young people. It kills the work incentive, lowers the IQ, not to mention the health risks.
I invite any to go to the American Lung web site and read the results of their studies. One point they point out is that marijuana smoke is loaded with carcinogens and people who smoke inhale more deeply and retain the smoke in their lungs for its addictive affect.
I can promise you parents you will rue the day if your children get addicted to it.
As a finial point, as a loving parent, you will love and discipline your children. This means to set an example for them. You warn them about the dangers of cigarettes, drugs and alcohol, in other words you put a protective hedge around them.
When you legalize it you legitimize it, you are sending a wrong message out.
Hope to see you at the special town meeting
John Pond, Fairhaven
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