On Nov. 7, Houlton citizens will vote on two very important local referendum questions and three open Town Council positions.
The two referendum questions will decide our identity as a community.
Do we want to allow recreational marijuana stores as part of our business community? Do we want to be known as the “Pot Seat” of Aroostook, rather than the “County Seat”? Do we want to be identified as supporters of the drug culture?
No one can deny that marijuana is a drug. Recreational marijuana’s only use is to “get high.” It alters the user’s ability to think, make decisions, and react quickly.
Recently, our Town Council decided that businesses who sell this recreational drug would be a wonderful addition to the Houlton community, despite the overwhelming message Houlton citizens had sent in November 2016 by opposing recreational marijuana legalization. Ironically, our Town Council is waging a battle against its own citizens to bring recreational marijuana stores to Houlton.
What was their basis for this decision? The speculative promises of great wealth made by potential investors who want to open recreational marijuana stores in Houlton. Most of these investors don’t live in Houlton and won’t experience the effects their businesses have on our town. They’re not raising families here and don’t care about us or our community. To them, Houlton is just a testing ground for their ventures, and money is their god.
Our Town Council has never discussed the negative effects such businesses will have on the health and safety of our youth and our families. They’ve never talked about such businesses creating the need for increased law enforcement or increased public health services for those who abuse marijuana, which means tax increases. They’ve never considered the negative message we’ll be sending to impressionable youth if we allow these businesses to operate here.
On Nov. 7, Houlton voters will decide if we want to continue to be a community that cares about people more than money or become pushers of the recreational marijuana culture. If you oppose recreational marijuana businesses opening in Houlton, ignore Question 1 and vote “Yes” on Question 2 on the local ballot.
Finally, this may be a good opportunity for a little swamp draining right here in Houlton, Maine. Voters will fill three open Town Council positions on Nov. 7.
Two current Town Council members are running for re-election — Jane Torres and Christian Robinson. Both of these people strongly support bringing recreational marijuana businesses to our town.
Thankfully, there are also new people — Hal Britton and Edward Lake — running for these positions and neither wants these businesses in our town. They will listen to and act as representatives of Houlton citizens. Please vote for them for Town Council.
Lynn A. Weston
Houlton
