The People Want Change Legislators, Are You Listening?
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Change takes Courage. It is never the easiest route, nor the one those stuck in the past are willing to take, but it is necessary. Rhode Island, as both a state and a people, can’t be afraid to enact change based solely on outdated ideas and misinformation. “Reefer Madness” era propaganda and lies are still stuck in the minds of many, which is preventing us as a society from moving forward. We must look at the facts in front of us to make our decisions, instead of relying on the outdated ideas of the past.
We must look at the realities, not the lies. And the reality, legislators, is that your constituents want marijuana legalized, regulated, and taxed. They don’t want black market sales to their children anymore. They don’t want police resources wasted and lives ruined by arrests and prison sentences, all because of a natural plant. A plant which 20% of your constituents have used in the past month alone. A plant, which nearly 60% of voters believe should be legalized. The same voters who sent you to office are demanding change; you should listen.
Facts are what we must base decisions on, not hype. Like the fact that teen use rates drop in states where marijuana is legalized. Marijuana usage among teens in Colorado has dropped each of the past two years since legalization. Regulated stores which ID customers help lower teen use of marijuana and its products, unlike the corner drug dealer who will sell to anybody with cash. Some doubters like to use the argument that legalization will increase addiction and crime; in a state where 20% of people are using the drug every month, we would already see these effects if they were true. But they simply are not backed up by any evidence.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe legal cannabis industry is the fastest growing industry in America, and Rhode Island would be foolish to delay the inevitable any longer. A recent study found the legal pot business will bring in $10 BILLION in revenue by years end, from $3.1B in cannabis products and another $6.9B in ancillary businesses and products, such as grow lights and paraphernalia. That figure is expected to reach $29 Billion by 2019. That is billions of dollars out of the hands of criminals, and into the hands of legitimate business owners and employees, and ultimately generating millions in taxes for the state’s coffers. The same study also reported up to 60,000 people currently legally employed by the marijuana industry nationwide.
So instead of having closed door meetings with millionaire baseball team owners, instead of even discussing the idea of a taxpayer subsidized ballpark without including a resounding “NO!” in the same sentence, pass actual and meaningful CHANGE. It will be hard, for those stuck in the past. It will be scary, for those afraid of progress, but we can do it. Our state wants it. Have courage, throw off the lies and misinformation of the past we have been taught and told our whole lives, and make a real difference in our state’s future. It’s the right thing to do, and its time.
Jim Aubin of Common Sense Citizens Collective & Regulate RI
Aubin started Common Sense Citizens to fight for marijuana legalization in RI in early January, and joined Regulate RI's coalition shortly after. He is a navy veteran, an EMT, and an entrepreneur.Aubin is from and currently live in North Smithfield.
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