Legislator Rob Trotta at podium with Steve Chassman LICADD
Legislators Rob Trotta (13th LD) and Leslie Kennedy (12th LD) held a press conference Thursday morning for the purpose of stating their opposition and rational for opposing the sale of recreational marijuana in Suffolk County. The two legislators were surrounded by professionals in the field of substance abuse and two community advocates from Smithtown, Kim Revere from Kings Park in the kNow and Debbie Virga from the Commack Coalition of the Caring.
The participants were incredulous that this was even a topic of discussion in 2019. Why now they asked?
Legislator Trotta believes he knows the answer to the question and it’s all about tax receipts. “I don’t view the sale of marijuana as a viable source of revenue because the health and well-being, of our residents, are far more important than plugging the holes in our bloated budget.” He is vowing to do everything he can to raise awareness to the dangers young people will be exposed to. He pointed out that sixty-six districts in Colorado opted out of selling marijuana and that legalization leads to more crime and a booming black market.
Steve Chassman who is the executive director at Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD), a not-for-profit agency that has a long (61 years) history of working with substance abusers on Long Island, made a compelling case for rejecting recreational marijuana asking, “Will the legalization of marijuana adversely or positively impact public health?
Chassman went on to say that legalization and having dispensaries in Suffolk County may adversely impact the pubic health which has not fully emerged from the recent 12-year health crisis. He warned, “In states where legalization occurred, packaging is geared to young adults, if not adolescents and we know that marijuana has adverse effects on memory retention and learning in the undeveloped brain (25 years of age). Do we want marijuana to have this adverse effect on Public health? “
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L-R Kim Revere Kings Park in the kNOw, Debbie Virga Commack Coalition of the Caring, Kim Laube Hugs, Steve Chessman LICADD, Legislator Rob Trotta, Anthony Rizzuto, Seafield, Legislator Leslie Kennedy
Legislator Kennedy has a background in nursing, she decryed the push to legalize recreational pledging to continue speaking out in opposition “so that no one will be on the roads with a high THC level. ” Legislator Kennedy stated that THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) (one of at least 113 cannaboids identified in cannibas and is identified as the compound in cannabis that is psychoactive and gives you the feeling of being high.) remains in a person’s system for as much as 30 days and noted that there are currently no tests to adequately identify THC levels when pulled over for traffic violations.
According to the Mayo Clinic marijuana use can cause cognitive impairment and should be used with caution. Marijuana can cause: headache, dry mouth, dry eyes, lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, nausea, paranoid thinking, disconnected state (dissociation), increased appetite and cough.
While “What are they thinking” was the general sentiment, most speakers emphasized that available data supports their perspective that recreational marijuana leads to increased traffic accidents, crime and suppresses the development of young brains and should not be sold for recreational use.
Public Hearing on Legalization of Recreational Marijuana - February 25, 2019 | 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Suffolk County Legislature William H. Rogers Legislature Building 725 Veterans Memorial Highway Smithtown, NY 11787 For more information, call 631-853-4088