On July 10, the Montcalm Township Board voted 3-2 in favor of adopting an ordinance approving up to three medical marijuana facilities. This decision discounted the research around community health concerns, particularly involving the youth — our children and grandchildren.
John Kroneck
The rationale given to approve the ordinance was primarily to control the marijuana in the community. Afterward, people in favor of the ordinance asked why I would oppose when it brings good controls to the product. Comments such as: “People who are now growing will stop growing and just buy from the medical marijuana facility” and “Children will have less access because people will not be growing themselves so there will be less marijuana laying around the homes.”
Although the thinking presented interesting theories, there was also quite a bit of wishful thinking included. Normally, I would applaud the creative play. However, the costs to basing public policy on wishful thinking — hoping things work out — include costs to our children.
It is wishful thinking that because there are legal medical marijuana stores, those who are growing for personal use or as a caregiver for up to five other people, will stop growing their own free pot and buy it from the store.
It is wishful thinking that a legal medical marijuana store will control the growing and availability of marijuana to youth. It is currently legal for adults to grow their own marijuana. Setting up another layer of available marijuana will not “control” those who want to grow for themselves. These are two different state laws.
It is wishful thinking that our youth will be better off. In every other place that stores are set up, the youth’s perception that pot is safe goes up and so does their use. How will the Montcalm Township youth be different? By the way, it is expected that this will also affect other youth attending Greenville schools.
It is wishful thinking that traffic vehicle crashes will not go up. Again, every other place that has legalized has seen increases in traffic crashes and fatalities. How is it that Montcalm Township expects a different outcome?
It is wishful thinking that as our children perceive marijuana as less harmful and their use goes up, it will not affect learning, IQ and overall life success — as studies have shown to happen.
It is wishful thinking that using high levels of THC, such as in edibles and vaping products, will not lead to more episodes of psychosis, mental health problems, more legal problems, less employment, and less life satisfaction, again, as studies have shown.
It is wishful thinking that Montcalm Township will gain financially. With alcohol and tobacco products, for every dollar we collect in taxes, there are $10 in social costs to the community. What have we seen that tells us it will be any different for a product that alters perception like alcohol and is inhaled into the lungs like tobacco? To be clear, however, there is one initial difference, the law states because marijuana was legalized for recreational use, no taxes on medical marijuana are to be collected.
These are just some of the data the Montcalm Township Board chose to look beyond to vote to open the marijuana businesses in Montcalm Township. It is my wishful thinking that the people of Montcalm Township speak up, put the health and safety of our children and grandchildren as the highest priority and tell the board to reverse its decision. And should this not happen, then I wish for a miracle and that all the board’s wishful thinking contrary to the research, comes true.
John Kroneck is a Montcalm County grandpa and the health promotion supervisor for Cherry Health Promotion in Stanton. He can be contacted at JohnKroneck@CherryHealth.com.
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