Recently Nicole T. Hampton (Republican candidate for 143rd District of the Connecticut General Assembly) posted some concerns in regards to recreational Cannabis potentially coming to Norwalk. I’d like to take a moment to address all of them.
Connecticut legalized recreational cannabis use last year, but did you know that each community has the option to sell it or not to sell it?
We the consumer are definitely aware of this as we’ve been listening to it and dealing with it since 2012 when the medical marijuana program was initially rolling out. Some dispensaries had to actually fight the town and have city meetings and zoning hearings just to get their spots. I actually participated in a few of them in favor of the dispensary. But, there’s always going to be a NIMBY. People within the cannabis community initially expect it at this point.
I was hoping that it would be better regulated.
Better regulated? Aside from the recent mold level increase, they’re over regulated. I speak from experience. Everything has to be accounted for and properly labeled at all times. I really don’t see any of this changing for the recreational market. Not even a little. There’s going to be a standard.
The cannabis legislation does not put a cap on the THC level for vape cartridges, which we all know are popular among kids.
There might not be a ceiling on the books but I can assure you there’s a ceiling on what you can squeeze into one of those cartridges. Everything will be clearly labeled and will indicate that it is 250 mg or 500 mg or 1000 mg per cartridge. Just like they are right now. Lastly, if the kids are getting their hands on this it is not coming directly out of the dispensary. The security is too tight at the door, they’d never get inside.
There’s also no funding for prevention education until fiscal year 2024, and no warning labels.
All packaging currently indicates that there is THC in that product. I don’t see this changing.
Cigarettes and alcohol have warning labels about the risks of birth defects, impaired driving, and health problems, so why isn’t Connecticut requiring those for cannabis?
Cigarettes and alcohol are both federally regulated. Cannabis is not. Otherwise we’d have an ATWF instead of an ATF, or something like that. So the same guidelines don’t apply. Sure… the state could put something in place I guess. “Parental Advisory” sort of thing.
Children should be warned that cannabis could turn into a gateway drug for them. The loss of IQ in teens, cyclical vomiting disorder, and erectile dysfunction are only a few of the many health risks associated with cannabis use addiction.
The gateway theory has been debunked more times than I can even recall. You could easily state that it all started with milk which later led to whiskey… Just saying.
IQ loss is true, but this is only in the chronic user. If a teen is chronic, there are bigger issues at hand.
I’m not saying that the vomiting doesn’t happen but this is usually an indication that the body has had too much. The same thing happens with beer, wine, and whiskey. But we have liquor stores EVERYWHERE.
Erectile dysfunction is false. That is normally associated with nicotine consumption, constricted blood vessels and lower blood flow. There is no nicotine in cannabis. In addition it’s a known anti-inflammatory. It doesn’t tighten you up… It loosens you up.
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Also, our state made $15 million from the application fees for these cannabis cash-only storefronts. Where is that money being allocated?
Didn’t you know? It all just goes into the big black hole that is our general fund. Which nobody seems to have to account for. That’s the simple answer.
Why isn’t it going towards prevention programs to protect our youth?
I think with adult use this should come as a conversation with responsible parents. I’ve met some people in the industry that talk about it so much that when they even say the words hemp or cannabis around their children they roll their eyes and walk away. They’ve demystified the devil. Just add it to a health class regimen and have them talk about it just like they do alcohol. Leave it at that. Why would anything more be needed? Plus, there’s this.
They mentioned having security at the public consumption site. I’m wondering if such security will carry Narcan to revive people who overdose once the site becomes a public space for drug use, since fentanyl (a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine) is now so prevalent in the drug trade, including being able to be laced into cannabis.
I guess they would carry Narcan… It seems every place carries that stuff now. But I really don’t see how that applies to this. Just because it’s a consumption space I don’t think it would necessarily turn into a public space for drug use. Nothing like this has occurred at the designated smoking zone in Milford. The way I hear it people go there all the time just for the sake of saying that they were there and smoked.
In addition, fentanyl laces weed is nothing more than an urban legend. Show me an actual case
Why aren’t we listening to the suggestions from Colorado and California on how they regret legalizing it? They are both warning other states that their DUIs, crime and homelessness will increase!
DUIs: Click Here
Crime: Click Here
Homelessness:
Homelessness is a deeper issue than just trying to pin it on a dispensary. If one were to take a look at the statistics they would find that about 30% were homeless due to substance problems. About 26% of homeless individuals have severe mental disorders. The rest are homeless due to a loss of a job or not being able to find adequate affordable housing. Most people in the state are about two paychecks away from being homeless. This is a way bigger issue than a weed store.
Cannabis businesses are cash-only due to federal regulation, so they are constantly being robbed.
There has been one robbery in this state since everything opened in 2013. In nine years there was only one incident which occurred after business hours. One in 9yrs. These places are COVERED in security cameras and equipment.
Cannabis over 10 percent THC level is associated with increases in mental illness (anxiety, psychosis, and suicidal ideation) and addiction.
On the contrary people use higher percentages of THC to combat anxiety along with things like PTSD which can cause suicidal ideation. It’s not always bad to forget things.
As far as psychosis, if a pharmacist, technician, or bud tender is doing their job properly when a person indicates that they have a mental health issue such as a bipolar disorder, they should be recommending lower THC products for that individual if any at all… Having staff that knows their stuff is very important.
Please do a Google search on how people use Cannabis to beat additions.
Does Norwalk really need the tax revenue so much that we should be subjecting our kids to these risks?
What risk? There’s no more risk than offering beer at every gas station, grocery store, and convenience stop. The only difference is is this won’t be at every gas station, grocery store, and convenience stop. It’s isolated to a single location. How much more exclusive does it need to be?
I also want to know why our community isn’t talking about the overdoses happening a few times a week in our city. Since Sept. 1, Norwalk has had 13 overdoses, three fatal. What happened to transparency?
None of this has anything to do with recreational cannabis.
So for the most part I really feel that this is coming from a “reefer madness“ type of perspective. Our times are changing and evolving. I think it’s best for everyone to just go with the flow because this is simply what the people want and have always wanted. and maybe you’re right… Maybe the city doesn’t need the extra 3% revenues but I bet every single local business that surrounds that dispensary would appreciate the extra foot traffic. Because there will be foot traffic. Do yourself a favor and go visit the dispensary in the very near future and perhaps that would help demystify the devil for you.
