I was watching the news last night with my son. One segment in particular that struck a nerve with me was the debate on the legalization of marijuana. They had several individuals speaking on how they’ve acquired over 100,000 signatures on petitions backing a statewide vote on legalization.

This referendum may actually pass, making this now-illegal and dangerous drug available to everyone. What is troubling to me is the effort everyone seems to be putting forward for a “high.”

Marijuana is already legal for medical purposes for those who need it. If legal for other purposes, this drug will bring nothing but trouble to our schools and youth and to our roads and communities.

What I would like to know is:

• Who signed the petitions?

• What were they told?

• What were they led to believe?

• Did anyone who signed consider the increased availability of this drug to our teens?

• Did they consider the danger to our police and emergency response personnel or the cost to train police to detect it?

• Did anyone who signed consider the cost of security that will need to increase everywhere it is sold?

• Are businesses prepared to detect personnel who are using during work hours?

• How about the cost to rehabilitate our citizens who become desperate from over-use?

Maybe instead of trying to legalize a drug, these fellow citizens should first start with petitioning to raise money to prepare for it. It seems that they are interested in only getting high.

If they worked all day fighting for our country, or policing our streets, or maybe working in a office or raising children, would they then be so interested in legalizing a drug for recreational use?

It’s a serious question that people should really think about.

Robert Cunningham

Cumberland