Fear of the Unknown

FranAllen Acosta
Jul 20, 2017 · 4 min read

When I think of the current hysteria stirring up in Lawrence over the legalization of recreational cannabis I am reminded of an image drawn by artist Pawel Kuczynski. One of many memorable pieces of his art, this image depicts a man burning the steps of his ladder to freedom, in order to feed a fire. At some point the character ignored the intended use of the ladder. He could’ve climbed it without fear but instead he chose to limit his progression, for the momentary comfort and light provided by the fire, ruining his chances of freedom.

Pawel Kuczynski

In many ways this image is a perfect discription of the anti-cannabis movement in Lawrence. Here is a population of people motivated by fear and the lack of valid information. Their testimony doesn’t take into account their own faults. Using cannabis as a scapegoat for bad parenting and poverty. A group that is being manipulated by politicians, and is manipulating other politician’s, with aspirations to get reelected. Their words claim they want what is best for Lawrence. But like the man who burned the ladder, he thought the fire was what was best for him. When honestly he was just chasing momentary comfort, in exchange he lost new opportunities to grow.

I on the other hand have climbed the ladder and have seen what you consider unknown. I understand you better than you understand me. As a farmer and as an independent politician I want to assure you that there is nothing to be afraid of. Cannabis is not a drug. Advil is a drug. Cannabis is a plant, a plant that grows just like cilantro, just like sage, just like mint. All these plants have been created by the hands of God and in moderation offer a benefit to our health.

cannabis plant

The ordinance approved by the Lawrence City Council to ban the sale of cannabis was a failure. The current councilors are uneducated on the cannabis industry. They don’t know the difference between cultivators and dispensaries. Cultivation is the operation of growing cannabis. In Northern climates this is done indoors, usually in large buildings. In Lawrence possible cultivation businesses could be housed in places like the Polartec building, any of the warehouses, or our historic mill buildings. Cultivation happens behind the scenes, it’s hidden from the public to insure safety. The process is well-regulated to control quality and illegal sales. These business will do well in our communities. Cannabis is a product that could be produced in Lawrence and would hire people of all skill levels.

Polartec Building
Cannabis Cultivation Center

Dispensaries is what the anti-cannabis group is worried about. Dispensaries operate more like cafes and bodegas. They are the shops and street level cannabis establishments that are seen by the public and operate as a middle man between cultivators and customers. Dispensaries in Lawrence could be controlled through zoning laws. They could be placed in areas far from school zones. Zoning laws could also limit there appearance to one per street so they aren’t in every corner like barbershops as well as stopping them from being at floor level.

Reports show that the illegal cannabis makes up roughly 30% percent of the revenue produced by the black market. Those who support the ban are indirectly supporting the black markets growth in Lawrence and will continue making Lawrence a spot for illegal drugs. Lawrence loses revenue while surrounding communities who adopt the legal sale of cannabis will benefit from tax revenues, increased local business, and decreased crime. “Excessive local control will defeat policy goal of minimizing the illicit market. In light of the voters’ will, it is important that all municipalities work to create a well-regulated but open market for the retail sale of marijuana in their communities. Overzealous banning and regulation simply encourages illicit market activities, which reward criminals and carry none of the consumer protection benefits of a well-regulated, transparent marketplace.

In 2016, Lawrence passed an ordinance to prohibit people from consuming cannabis in the park. A year later we see that the ban had no effect. If politicians would’ve used solution based thinking they would looked at models of other cities dealing with the issue and could’ve sought to make a greater impact. For example if you want people to stop smoking in parks create a designated public smoking area away from kids which has been done by other major cities. This is an example of solution based thinking that tries to accommodate the wants of both parties. As a city councilor I want to push Lawrence toward the path of progression using creative and fact based solutions.

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