Will Cannabis Turn Troy into Dreamland?

One of the most interesting books I have read gives me insights

Every ten years or so, a local government is faced with a difficult decision, it can be a big project or a new regulation. It is often a decision that comes down to whether the community grows and matures or stays with the status quo. It deeply feels that our community’s process about allowing cannabis operations is such a heavy decision.

A few years ago, as our community was struggling with opioid abuse, I asked for book reviews to learn more about the issue. I kept on hearing about one particular book. Sam Quinones' "Dreamland" offers a compelling and multifaceted exploration of the opioid epidemic in Portsmouth, Ohio, providing valuable insights that can inform discussions about drug policy, and it at least helps frame some of my own thoughts on the legalization of cannabis dispensaries as I recollect some of the themes that the book pointed out.

And yet, when it comes to the issues around cannabis, our community has to acknowledge our stance when it comes to alcohol. When we look at our city’s own actions on TREX liquor permits and Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas (DORAs), as well as the comparative effects of alcohol and marijuana intoxication, we have to reckon with the fact that our city is not only welcoming of intoxicating liquor, our community embraces alcohol and makes it a large part of our community’s economic development strategy.

Pharmeceuticals: A Gateway Drug?

"Dreamland" traces the origins and spread of the opioid crisis, highlighting how a combination of factors - including aggressive pharmaceutical marketing, changing medical attitudes towards pain management, economic despair in many communities, and the entrepreneurial tactics of heroin dealers - created a perfect storm of addiction. The book serves as a cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of well-intentioned policies and the dangers of prioritizing profit over public health.

This aspect of the crisis bears consideration in discussions about cannabis dispensaries. While cannabis and opioids are very different substances with distinct risk profiles, the opioid crisis demonstrates how the widespread availability of a substance, even when legally sanctioned and medically prescribed, can lead to unforeseen public health challenges.

Yet, when I heard the impassioned individuals that talked about the risk of recreational cannabis and how these substances can end up in the wrong hands, I can’t help but think that there are stronger and more potent pharmaceuticals being sold at the corner drug store. There are far more potent, and legal, drugs available in our community and yes, these often end up in the hands of youngsters as well. It’s hard to ignore that this can be a public health challenge as well.

Furthermore, these cannabis dispensaries provide a very clinical approach to their work, even on the recreational side; there are immediate identification checks, employees monitor customer activity and other safety measures are employed as well. In reality, the odds of an underage person securing alcohol or other non-regulated synthetic substances from the corner convenience store is infinitely higher than a youngster being able to get something from a cannabis dispensary.

Back to the book, Quinones’ work also explores the cultural shifts that contributed to the opioid crisis, including changing attitudes towards pain and the increasing medicalization of everyday life. This context is important when considering how policies like TREX permits and DORA reflect and shape societal attitudes towards substance use. The book's exploration of the healthcare system's role in the opioid crisis also offers lessons for cannabis policy. Quinones describes how a well-intentioned focus on pain management, combined with pharmaceutical companies' influence, led to overprescription of opioids.

It’s an important dimension because I am surprised by the number of people that openly talk about using dispensaries as a way to access cannabis for their own health regimen, even in a recreational way. These are sometimes older individuals that are plauged with chronic pain and they see cannabis as a way to access a substance that helps them without taking part of the industrial-pharmecutical complex, these individuals believe that they would much rather use a natural product than something made in a laboratory by a company that is driven more by profit than health outcomes.

Embracing Alcohol as an Economic Development Strategy

The economic dimension of the opioid crisis, as portrayed in "Dreamland," seems particularly relevant to the cannabis dispensary debate. Quinones describes how economic decline in many American communities created fertile ground for the spread of addiction. Proponents of cannabis legalization often cite potential economic benefits, including job creation and tax revenue, as arguments in favor of allowing dispensaries.

However, "Dreamland" reminds us that economic solutions should not come at the expense of public health and community well-being.In the context of our community’s policies on alcohol, we can draw some interesting parallels. The TREX (Transfer of Location and Exemption) process for liquor permits in Ohio allows businesses to transfer liquor permits across city or county lines, bypassing quota restrictions, which Troy has used on a number of occassions. This policy aims to stimulate economic development by making it easier for businesses to obtain liquor licenses in areas where they might otherwise be unavailable. In fact, every TREX permit approved must specificially state that the permit will improve the community’s economic standing. Similarly, our own Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas (DORAs) here in town allows patrons to consume alcoholic beverages in specific outdoor areas, often as part of an effort to boost the downtown economy and create vibrant community spaces.

These alcohol-related policies in our community represent attempts to balance economic development with regulated substance use. They demonstrate a willingness to relax certain restrictions on alcohol consumption in the interest of economic and community benefits. As communities consider cannabis dispensaries, these policies might serve as potential models for how to integrate regulated substance use into community development plans.

The TREX permit system and DORAs also raise questions about equity and community impact that are pertinent to the cannabis dispensary debate. These policies are largely concentrating alcohol outlets in our downtown, which leads to a related discussion of whether our downtown could be seen as over saturated with alcohol-serving establishments. Regardless of how one feels about the use of cannabis, it seems plainfully obvious that allowing cannabis operations downtown, given the relative saturation of drinking establishments and DORA, should be a complete non-starter.

The Dangers of Being Drunk

It’s also important to consider the comparative effects of alcohol and cannabis intoxication, it's important to note that research generally suggests that alcohol poses a greater threat to public safety than marijuana. Alcohol is associated with higher rates of violent behavior, traffic accidents, and other risky behaviors compared to cannabis.

This fact adds an interesting dimension to the debate about cannabis dispensaries, especially when considered alongside our own community’s embracing of alcohol as economic development strategy. The lower risk profile of marijuana compared to alcohol could be seen as an argument in favor of cannabis dispensaries. One could strongly argue that allowing even just one cannabis dispensary might be justified, given its comparatively lower risk profile. Yet, it's crucial to approach this argument with caution, recognizing that introducing a new substance into the community could have unforeseen consequences, as "Dreamland" so vividly illustrates with opioids.

Another important theme in "Dreamland" is the inadequacy of the criminal justice system in addressing addiction. Quinones shows how incarceration often failed to address the root causes of drug abuse, instead perpetuating a cycle of addiction and crime. This insight is particularly relevant to discussions about cannabis, as many argue that legalization could reduce the burden on the criminal justice system and allow for more effective treatment-focused approaches to substance abuse. In fact, that was an agrument made for last year’s Issue 2, the statewide measure that now allows recreational cannabis in our state.

The community aspect highlighted in "Dreamland" is also relevant when considering potential cannabis regulations. The book emphasized how the breakdown of community bonds made many areas vulnerable to the opioid epidemic, but also how community-based approaches have been crucial in recovery efforts. In our town, DORA is framed as community-building initiatives, creating shared spaces for social interaction. As we consider cannabis dispensaries, this perspective highlights the need for strong community involvement in decision-making, regulation, and the integration of these businesses into the local social fabric. Are the social bonds strong enough in our town to have cannabis be used responsibly?

Working Towards a Solution

In the final analysis, recreational cannabis is such a deep and multi-faceted issue that our community should stand up against overly simplistic solutions and our community should emphasize the need for robust regulation, community engagement, and a focus on public health. The challenge lies in crafting policies that can capture potential benefits - which our community has seemingly done through a welcoming alcohol policy, for the proposed advantages of cannabis dispensaries - while mitigating risks to public health and community well-being. The fact that alcohol, a legal and widely available substance, poses a greater threat to public safety than marijuana can not be underscored and adds another layer of complexity to these considerations.

As our community navigates through these complex issues, we have to recognize all the facets that are involved in decisions about substance regulation and availability, and we should proceed with caution, thorough consideration, and a commitment to learning from our collective experiences.

For any local government, the goal should be to develop policies that promote community well-being, economic vitality, and public health while minimizing the potential for harm and addiction. I am not completely sure our community goes through that process every time we look at a new TREX permit, or we talk about enlarging the DORA district for outdoor events. Yet, for recreational cannabis, the standard is higher, which is understandable.

In the end, our community ended up with DORA through a vote of the people at the ballot box, via a referendum. The main message through the campaign for DORA was that we should allow adults to make adult decisions. It seems that maybe the same line of thought should be applied to recreational cannabis.

I still believe a compromise can be made. Our community certainly does not need to make cannabis available on every street corner in our downtown. Yet, there are ways to ensure that a safe, tested and legal product can be responsibly procured by those that are of age in our community through dispensaries that are discreet, secure and accessible.

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If you made this far, congratulations! I will freely admit, today’s newsletter was a bit rambling and maybe even scatter-shot. But, please add your ideas to the comment section. Our paid subscribers are more than welcome to leave their ideas and insights in the comment thread!

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