EDITOR:

Dear citizens and residents of the city of Escanaba,

My article is in response to an editorial of June 18, 2019, in the Escanaba Daily Press.

I would like to start by thanking the Daily Press for publishing this very important piece of information. I would like to remind our citizens that recreational marijuana was made legal in Michigan as of Dec. 6, 2018, providing its users abide with the set forth regulations.

Like many responsible Michiganders, I have been using the many websites citing both pros and cons on this issue. Being that Colorado legalized recreational marijuana approximately six years ago, I have read many facts coming from Colorado’s experiences with dispensaries. By being informed of their mistakes and the directions they have changed, it has opened my mind to the need to research more and more.

Another resource is using our law enforcement to understand their thoughts and concerns on the issue. After all, they do deal with drug issues every day and I respect every one of them for trying to keep our community safe. I have for some time now been advocating the importance to be informed and educating ourselves on the side of the issue which most of us don’t hear or talk about. Please remember that we, as a community, do get a choice whether or not we need the sale and commercializing of this drug in our community and making its availability easier for our children and adolescents.

It is a fact that the voters did pass proposal 1, but did they pass the many procedures which follow Proposal 1?

The choice is yours. Please get informed so when the time comes, we can make an educated, informed decision whether we need these establishments in Escanaba.

Please remember there are almost always two sides to all issues. Please get involved, get informed and get educated on the “not so much informed side” of selling and commercializing recreational marijuana.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article.

William A. Gasman

Escanaba