Dear Editor:

In the coming weeks Wiscasset leaders and residents will engage in a discussion on whether to allow commercial growth and distribution of marijuana in our town. The ostensible enticement is to get in on a fast-growing industry and cash in. But things aren’t always as they seem. As Wiscasset residents ponder this question, they should ask themselves what kind of town they want to live in. Despite the recent legalization of marijuana, there are apparently still dark forces at work in the industry. To wit, the recent federal raid on a Farmingdale operation that was one of the largest growers and distributors in the state. The state of Maine office of marijuana policy acknowledges there are still criminal elements involved in the industry and is cooperating with federal agencies to bring them to justice.

But let’s look at the promise of economic prosperity driven by this new industry. The Maine state legislature enacted laws that require marijuana businesses to be owned by full-time state of Maine residents. Some of the existing operations have filed suit against the state of Maine and Maine Supreme Court claiming that the law is unconstitutional. They want to bring out-of-state investors in at any level they want. So, the very real question is whether any net economic value (profit) would remain in the state. The battle for the economy here will be won or lost based on whether we are net exporters or importers of goods and services. Because of federal law, cannabis cannot be exported from the state. Mainers who spend their money buying the product will see their hard-earned dollars leave the state and go to out-of-state investors. Maine’s office of marijuana policy director stated that because of the lawsuit, his office will not enforce the majority ownership law effectively making Maine fair game for any out of state opportunists. There are currently very wealthy out-of-staters that are looking at Wiscasset as a place to grow marijuana and even make it a marijuana tourist destination. Ask yourself if that is a fitting future for a town such as ours.

David S. Stapp

Wiscasset