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Date: 5/18/2018
WEST SPRINGFIELD – On May 11, Reminder Publications reported that West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt is pushing to legalize recreational marijuana. The article has since sparked a debate on Facebook, featuring almost 200 comments debating the pros and cons of the mayor’s proposal.
Although adult-use marijuana was legalized in the Bay State in 2016, the Legislature delayed the start of recreational sales from January 2018 to July 2018. The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) has been working on regulations and setting up its enforcement operations since September 2017. Once sales begin in July, adults 21 and older can purchase recreational marijuana from any retail pot shops or current medical dispensaries that received their recreational licenses. State law says individuals can possess up to 1 ounce on your person in public – although it cannot be consumed in public. Users are not allowed to keep more than 10 ounces at home.
Reichelt, who is petitioning the Town Council to amend the Zoning Ordinance law to allow the adult-use of marijuana, says he believes West Side could benefit financially from the legalization of recreational marijuana. If it were to legalize, the municipality would stand to collect a 3 percent local sales tax from commercial pot facilities within West Side, and profit from any additional revenue generated from host community agreements, he argued.
“I understand the perception of marijuana being a bad thing, but that is over – it’s here and it’s coming. Instead of just burying our heads in the sand and banning it, we can thoughtfully regulate it and make sure we have the right tools in place to benefit from it,” said Reichelt.
He is ready to embrace any controversy surrounding his decision, he added, considering the community voted against the legalization of adult-use marijuana in the November 2016 state ballot measure.
In a letter addressed to Town Council President George D. Condon III, the mayor proposed a variety of zoning amendments, which include limiting the number of retail operations, segregating the use to industrial zones, placing buffers around residential uses as well as parks, playgrounds and schools. He’s also calling for the strict regulation of signage, odor, visual impacts, hours of operation and the prohibition of on-site consumption. The proposal was created using similar ordinances from surrounding communities, and treats marijuana as a legal product to be sold and regulated like alcohol or tobacco.
Reminder Publications’ coverage of the issue has recently sparked a debate on the “West Springfield, MA” Facebook forum, an open forum designed to connect residents. Many forum members have offered their opinions about the possibility of legalizing recreational marijuana – which appears to be evenly divided.
Facebook user Joe Calise wrote, “Alcohol, cigarettes. Both are sold at convenience stores…. And both are worse for your health than marijuana.”
While Shelley Anne posted, “Weed is legal. Do you want residents to bring their money to Springfield? Holyoke? Easthampton? No cannabis shops for West Spfld means no additional revenue, it will go to other communities. I mean, if you don’t care, fine. But moratoriums will simply send residents to another town, who will in turn gain tax monies that W Spfld could use, and the marijuana will still be in your town. How does that make sense?!”
Michael Fitzgerald approached the debate from a different perspective, commenting, “Only concern I have with it from a public safety point of view is that law enforcement still has no way of testing for driving wile under the influence of marijuana. Another thing for people to consider is that although it m ay be legal, employers are still testing for it and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. I’m not saying I disagree, I’m not that type of person to judge people for what they do in their own lives as I don’t need others judging me. Just things to think about.”
However, other members are not as comfortable with the idea of legalization.
Christine M. Kumiega posted, “Are you SERIOUS? Just as with alcohol, kids in Jr. High will be getting into this stuff. Guess this is considered not a bad thing to do by some! Plus we get that almighty 3 percent, BUT this is considered a ‘gateway drug,’ leading to bigger and better highs with other stuff which is for the moment illegal.”
“…I fully support medical, I just don’t support recreational because most recreational users aren’t responsible adults. They do not use it at home as they should. They drive and smoke or smoke it in parking lots before going into buildings. I can’t tell you how many people I see every day smoking in these situations,” added Lauren Mary.
Moira Centracchio echoed Lauren Mary’s claims, writing, “Why does everything come down to money. When the hotels/motels become over ridden with drug addicts/alcoholics everyone will turn around and call them scumbags and ***. Well what do you expect? Make it easy for kids to have access to all these “fund drugs,” five years later, can’t work, addicted to something stronger, etc, etc. There’s the cycle…”
Reichelt said he expected the mixed reactions online, and plans to continue encouraging informed discussions about the topic.
“Here’s a topic for discussion, let’s discuss it. I want to say, ‘here’s the real facts of what’s going on,’ not like these fear facts that have been thrown around forever,” he said. “If I hear something that is wrong, I will correct it. It’s important to debate topics and facts that are actually true.”
The mayor said he wants to be available to the public, and will host Facebook Live videos with information about his proposal, as well as write editorials and speak with the news as much as possible.
The Planning Board is set to have a public hearing for the issue on June 6, followed by a City Council public hearing on June 18.