Op-Ed: Approach Marijuana Legalization Carefully

The writer is a Putnam County Legislator

Whether you are for or against the legalization of recreational marijuana, there are many things the state government should look at before enacting such a major policy change.

Research from throughout the United States shows significant public health ramifications. How will they be addressed?

What will the role of local towns, villages, health & mental health departments be?

Will individual counties or the state monitor the use, frequency, testing, packaging and potency of marijuana?

Will there be a state or local infrastructure in place to develop regulations to ensure the growing and production of marijuana?

What policy and procedures will be in place for its use?

Who will pay the cost of car accidents, workplace issues, homelessness, enforcement, education, prevention and treatment?

The aforementioned are just a few issues that will impact all New Yorkers if the state rushes to pass this legislation.

Why the urgency, when the country finds itself in the middle of one of the most severe drug epidemics in our nation’s history? We need to fully vet what the ramifications are with legalizing marijuana. There is so much about this that we don’t know.

New Yorkers want and expect their government to do the right thing and understand the realities that everyday people face. Albany cannot ignore the questions above.

Contact the senate majority leader, assembly speaker and your assemblyperson and senator. Tell them to carefully and slowly look at this legislation before it comes up for a vote.

William Gouldman

Putnam Valley