Newton Police Chief Warns (Again) About Pot Shops & Public Safety

Newton Chief of Police, David MacDonald, sent a letter on October 26^th to the Newton TAB about public safety issues relating to opening Newton to pot shops. This letter is the third time our Chief of Police has publicly warned about safety concerns in connection with allowing recreational pot shops to open in Newton.

Police Chief MacDonald’s letter has not been published by the TAB so it is shared here so that Newton residents can read his report on an international conference of police chiefs. Many of the points he makes are from a session he attended entitled: "Marijuana Legalization: Impacts Every Chief Should Know from Traffic Safety to Licensed Businesses." The presenters were a member of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (equivalent of our Cannabis Control Commission) and the Director of the Washington (state) Traffic Safety Commission speaking about their state’s experience since legalizing – and commercializing – marijuana, namely:

· Increased frequency of high driving – with a DOUBLED risk of being involved in a crash,

· Frequent combined use of alcohol and marijuana,

· Lax attitudes toward impaired driving, and

· THC being the 2^nd most common substance after alcohol found in drivers’ blood following fatal crashes.

Newton residents often express pride in our City consistently being ranked as one of the safest cities in the United States. We owe a debt of gratitude for that to our gallant police force (and firefighters) who protect and serve the public. And we should pay attention to the advice they give us based on their professional expertise.

The first time Chief MacDonald issued a warning was when he was invited by the City Council to testify at a public hearing on allowing pot shops to open in Newton. He testified about a series of public safety concerns. He advised against opening Newton up to recreational pot shops. Likewise, Fire Department Chief Bruce Proia did the same at that public hearing. But those City Councilors who are determined to open Newton to recreational pot shops ignored their professional advice.

Police Chief MacDonald also wrote a letter to the TAB in September criticizing a pro-pot TAB columnist for an article that the Chief called a “master stroke of misinformation” for suggesting that there were mixed and unreliable data about the dangers of driving under the influence of marijuana. The pro-pot columnist even posited that high driving might be safer than normal because pot-induced paranoia would cause high drivers to drive more slowly and cautiously than clear-headed, sober drivers. Chief MacDonald denounced those blatantly false suggestions. In the Arlington edition of the Wicked Local newspaper, the Attorney General’s representative to the Massachusetts Special Commission on Operating Under the Influence excoriated the same column as ridiculous, uniformed and spreading a false narrative about pot and high driving. See: http://arlington.wickedlocal.c... .)

The following is a transcript of Police Chief MacDonald’s current letter to the TAB Editor – and to Newton residents – warning about some of the many public safety dangers from allowing Newton to become MetroWest’s bastion for pots shops investors:

October 26, 2018

Ms. Lisa Stratton, Executive Editor

Newton Tab

1 Speen St.

Framingham, MA 01701

Dear Ms. Stratten,

I recently attended the International Association of Chiefs of Police annual conference. One of the sessions I was able to attend was titled: Marijuana Legalization: Impacts Every Chief Should Know from Traffic Safety to Licensed Businesses. The presenters were a member of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board and the Director of the Washington (state) Traffic Safety Commission. Below I will delineate several points from their discussion. I do so as our citizens consider their personal position on the November 6th ballot questions. The information I cite comes from their presentation and I am acting as the middle man in facilitating its dissemination.

· OUI Liquor is socially unacceptable. However, there are no strong attitudes about OUI Drugs; the public is indifferent.

· In Washington State, prior to legalization, no baseline was determined for the amount of THC in one’s system which caused impairment.

· There are 480 chemical compounds in cannabis.

· Extracts and oils have caused an increase in hospital visits (Washington State) with hallucinations and vomiting as common symptoms. Doctors were not prepared to treat these symptoms.

· Marijuana is frequently combined with alcohol.

· Focus and coordination are impaired while under the influence and one’s risk of being in a crash doubles.

· In Washington State, OUI Citations have plummeted due to the legal complexities (search warrant required for blood sample).

· After alcohol, THC is the second most common compound found in the blood in fatal crashes.

· The presenters “doubt” if coroners are even testing for marijuana after the use of alcohol is established.

· Comprehensive studies on the amount of THC in marijuana show that in 1973 the level was approximately 3%, in 2008 it was approximately 10% and in 2014 it was approximately 20%.

· The number of drivers testing positive for THC in the daytime has increased.

· Drugged driving of all kinds in Washington State is up due to attitudes and difficulty in obtaining a conviction.

· Contrary to common perception, speed was the number one reason for pulling a car over when it was found that the operator was under the influence of marijuana.

Thank you for allowing me to pass along some facts, opinions and experiences of these officials from Washington State.

Sincerely,
David L. MacDonald
Chief of Police