A regulated approach will more safely control marijuana.
The jobs of EMTs and firefighters are already treacherous enough. Illegal marijuana growing can make our job even tougher. That’s why we need a safer approach to controlling marijuana and why I am voting Yes on Measure 91.
A regulated approach to marijuana will cut down on illegal growing so that firefighters are safer.
You may know about illegal marijuana growing in our forests. But illegal growing operations also make our neighborhoods more dangerous. Illicit growers go to great lengths to hide their electricity consumption, including stealing electricity from others using dangerous homemade power lines that can easily catch fire. They set up in quiet neighborhoods like yours and mine so they don’t attract attention.
Measure 91 creates a system of legitimate businesses that would be treated like other businesses. They would:
- pay for proper electricity and professional installation;
- install sprinklers and adhere to fire code; and
- meet zoning standards and be located where they belong, not hidden away.
Illegal growing operations make the outdoors more dangerous. In training for wildland fires, we are warned of the dangers from large illegal growing in wildfireinfested areas. Because these operations are illegal, they are often protected by booby traps or arms, and firefighters are instructed to get away from them even if it means walking away from a fire that needs our attention.
Measure 91 fights back against drug cartels so that they face competition with the regulated market and go out of business.
Let’s make our neighborhoods and wildlands safer by regulating, legalizing, and taxing marijuana. I’m a former EMT and volunteer firefighter, and I’m voting Yes on 91.
Brad Stewart, Nehalem
This information furnished by Bradley G Stewart.