On May 18, 2018, I was privileged to attend the grand opening of the Layman Way Recovery Center at the York County Jail. This new center will help individuals begin treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. If Sanford decides to allow for the open retail sale of marijuana, York County better be ready to open more recovery centers … a lot more.
For the past year, I have been President of the Sanford Schools Legacy Foundation which is tasked with raising additional monies for the new high school in Sanford. I have led tours of the new school with local and state business leaders. A common reaction: “This can be a game changer for Sanford. You have an opportunity to attract middle income families to Sanford.” Families will now have a compelling reason to move to Sanford: a high quality school attracts stable families.
When you combine the solar panel project, broadband expansion, and natural gas into the economic equation along with the new high school, Sanford is creating an infrastructure that can change the economic and social fabric for its citizens. However, if retail marijuana sale is introduced, all of these investments are compromised … all of them.
Sanford has had to fight an uphill battle in terms of its image. No more needs to be said about that. I believe that legalizing retail marijuana in Sanford will not only reinforce peoples’ negative image of Sanford, it will start a chain reaction compromising the city, both economically and socially. In the short run, Sanford may see an increase in potential revenue. However, long term, Sanford will see a decrease in residential property values, fewer businesses moving in, higher crime rates, and more money needed for public assistance. The eventual economic strain on support and safety services will far outweigh the benefits of the new monies raised. The quality of life in Sanford would be compromised.
I am not speaking to this issue on moral grounds. I am speaking about economic and public health concerns. For those who say “What about alcohol? It’s legal … why not pot?” I say this: If you truly believe we have done a good job as a society managing the consumption of alcohol responsibly, I encourage you to go into any emergency room in this country and observe the carnage coming for treatment: auto accidents, injuries, physical abuse, etc. The list goes on and on. The financial and social burden these individuals have put on themselves, their families, and their communities is staggering.
In short, this is bad public policy. Here are some questions I would like proponents of the retail sale of marijuana to address: What type of future does Sanford want for its families? How much economic and social capital is Sanford willing to spend on combating the effects of implementing such a policy? Why would a stable, middle class family move to Sanford with this policy in place? Why would a business relocate to Sanford?
Allen Lampert lives in Saco and is the Director of Adult Education in Sanford
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