The Board of Selectmen and Planning Board held a joint workshop Tuesday to learn more about retail marijuana in the community and the potential impact if voters decide to allow retail establishments in Kennebunk.
Kennebunk Police Chief Bob MacKenzie and guest speaker Falmouth Police Lt. John Kilbride, a law enforcement expert on marijuana, didn’t mince words when they described the burden legalized marijuana in the state is going to place on police departments across the state.
“I’m not prepared or willing to take on the level of oversight needed to ensure the health and safety of this proposal when I truly believe that we could potentially be putting our town and surrounding communities at risk by contributing to substance misuse, formerly known as addiction,” MacKenzie told the boards.
MacKenzie said the potential revenue from marijuana sales is not a trade-off the town should consider.
“I’m dedicated to reducing crimes associated with drugs and alcohol, and I’m committed to helping those struggling with substance misuse,” he said. “I’m very much opposed to increasing the risk to our community for the potential for making a few dollars.”
Kilbride brought a sample bag of what 2 ½ ounces of marijuana looks like, which is the legal amount of recreational marijuana people can carry in Maine.
“This is legal now, people can carry it around town, they can put it on the dashboard of their car, it’s totally legal. Most states have said you can have one ounce, in Maine it’s 2 1/2 ounces,” Kilbride said. “So what we need to talk about tonight is what can you anticipate.”
State lawmakers are currently working in committee to draw up regulations around retail marijuana, with an expected roll out next summer. When that happens, Kilbride said it’s going to look a lot different from the marijuana people are envisioning.
“This is not smoking a joint, sitting on your sofa,” Kilbride said.
The marijuana of the 1980s had three percent THC, which is the drug that gives you the desired effect of marijuana.
“What you are going to face in the state of Maine is anywhere between 25 and 35 percent THC,” he said.
The retail industry will call it cannabis, because they don’t like the term marijuana. Cannabis sounds more appealing and trendy, like craft beer, Kilbride said.
High potency marijuana, hash oils, vape pens and edibles are coming, and Kilbride said law enforcement is not prepared to deal with the many forms of consumption and masking that the industry will bring into the state.
“We’re going to have cookies and soda pop and chips. We’ll have cosmetic products with THC in them, lipstick and cream and lotions. These products are already here, they’re ready to go. They’re just waiting for the summer of 2018 to open up,” he said.
MacKenzie fully believes that marijuana is a gateway drug.
“I know that’s controversial, some say it is, some say it isn’t. I’ve been to the York County jail and I’ve interviewed prisoners. Many of them have told me themselves that they started with marijuana and that helped lead them down the path to substance misuse,” he said. “That’s very concerning to me.”
MacKenzie said marijuana related traffic deaths have increased 62 percent in the city of Denver, Colorado since marijuana was legalized in that state in 2013. Emergency room visits increased 49 percent in Denver from marijuana related incidents, he said.
Kilbride said law enforcement departments and towns across the state need to be prepared for a similar impact.
“It’s legal now, we all need to live with it. It was a close vote, 50 percent of the people didn’t want it, but 50 percent do want it. It’s going to be eye-opening,” he said.
Kilbride said his department is focusing on the youth in his community. Town leaders in Falmouth are still working through the process of deciding on retail marijuana, but Kilbride said his department has let them know “we are against retail, and we are focusing on our youth.”
“We need to get this out of our kids’ hands. They need to be educated on the effects of THC.”
Both MacKenzie and Kilbride emphasized the need for community leaders to begin planning. MacKenzie said even if the town decides against allowing retail marijuana in Kennebunk, legalization is going to require more manpower for his department.
“We know it’s coming, we are going to have issues, and we need officers to keep our people safe,” he said. “There’s a lot coming down the road, and I’m very concerned about it.”
“There will be issues that come with this. The world will not end, but there will be an uptick in all the problems we have right now, it’s going to magnify that,” Kilbride said.
The Planning Board and Board of Selectmen will continue to work on an ordinance to bring before voters.