To the editor:
A number of years ago, Lincoln spent more than a few Town Meetings discussing liquor in Lincoln. It certainly existed and was consumed. But it was not sold here, either for consumption elsewhere or in restaurants. Some thought to change that would forever change the character of the town for the worse. Some thought it would reflect reality and offer change for the better. But nowhere in the debates did we have to consider whether or not alcohol was bad for kids. It was accepted that alcohol (and tobacco) where not healthy for growing minds and bodies. The debate was about how the presence of alcohol sales and in restaurant consumption would affect our community.
It’s hard to believe how passionate those debates were, and how divided we were. Today, we have the sale of alcohol in Lincoln. Adults have purchased and enjoyed cocktails, wine and beer in a Lincoln restaurant. We host a vintner and have vineyards dotting hillsides. And alcohol is regulated to ensure it does not fall into the hands of underage children at the point of sale.
So it is puzzling to me that we cannot trust ourselves to be equally successful in regulating aspects of marijuana production and sale, without a change in bylaws that create a broadly worded ban that may have unintended consequences. And as to the growing, I am curious to know why our existing bylaws will not be effective to regulate the size and operation of any potential marijuana farm, if it is to exist in a large greenhouse, as they do. We have setback requirements and lighting bylaws. And do we not have some potential for regulation of water usage?
Also, while greenhouses, large and small, have been part of Lincoln’s agricultural legacy, few exist today, in part because of these very bylaws. In fact, there are few parcels large enough to accommodate a commercial operation. And those parcels are primarily owned by the town and managed by our Conservation Commission. What other parcels are there that could host such a grow operations and be outside our direct control? Are we reacting to a problem that does not currently and may never exist?
Finally, is there a danger to create a bylaw expressly designed to ban a particular form of agriculture? As a previous submission to LincolnTalk argued, cattle pose an environmental and dietary health threat. Might they be next? Would we be setting a precedent to begin to selectively ban specific agricultural activities?
We must also remember that a majority of us voted at the ballot box to make both medicinal and recreational marijuana legal in the Commonwealth, though a more recent town survey expressed a contradictory opinion. Should we respect the will of the voter in the ballot box, creating a legally binding law, or opinions expressed in a nonbinding survey? Do the current proposed bylaws under consideration work to thwart the will of the voters, as expressed at the ballot? This is also the debate at the state level, where elected and appointed officials have been at odds with the expressed will of the people.
It is ironic that we are having this debate as our neighbors to the north, known for their common sense, civility and safe communities, have legalized marijuana throughout the country. What do they know that we don’t? Are we rewinding and replaying the debate over alcohol? Is it necessary? Have we not learned anything in the last 10+ years? Is this a sensible thing to do?
Sincerely,
Sara Mattes
71 Conant Rd., Lincoln
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.
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