Regulating marijuana would benefit all Rhode Islanders

James W. Lyons
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 Rhode Islanders

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

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