Would Cannabis Sales Benefit Middletown? Absolutely!

 

According to a recent article in the Asbury Park Press, legalizing cannabis sales in Middletown, could, in my opinion, bring significant benefits if Middletown mirrored a successful model such as seen in Neptune.  Here's why: 

• 
  Tax Boost: Neptune's $900k tax revenue from cannabis sales highlights the potential financial gains. With a larger population, Middletown could rake in even more, funding public services and projects. 
• Economic Stimulus: Legalizing cannabis can create jobs, support local businesses, and attract investments, fueling economic growth and prosperity. 
  
• Property Tax Relief: By diverting cannabis tax revenue to public funds, Middletown could ease property tax burdens, making homeownership more affordable.
• Public Project Funding: The extra revenue could fund crucial projects like infrastructure improvements or better schools, enhancing residents' quality of life. 
•  Regulation: Legalization allows for regulated sales, ensuring product safety and curbing the black market, promoting public health and safety. 
• Adaptation and Progress: Embracing legalization signals openness to change and new opportunities, attracting residents and businesses, and enhancing Middletown's reputation. 

Legalized cannabis sales in Middletown promises positive outcomes, would support growth, would ease financial pressures on tax payers, and prioritize public welfare. It's a win-win all around.

Letter: The Legalization of Cannabis Must Empower Communities

The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog.


Dear Editor,

Cannabis has no more of a social stigma today than a glass of wine, but it appears the State of New Jersey has smoked the marijuana memo.

While many other states have legalized, New Jersey is still arresting adults for small amounts of pot, and has a failed medical program that is the most expensive in the nation.

Legalization of cannabis is expected if Democrat Phil Murphy is elected as Governor, but we still most work to create a system that will empower communities victimized by the racist war on drugs, and build an industry that favors union labor. Groups like the ACLU, NAACP, Labor Unions and Garden State Equality must be part of the legislative process.

I urge candidate Phil Murphy to pledge to build a cannabis industry that puts social justice, union labor, and our diverse communities before big business.

Rev. Dr. Eric Hafner
Toms River

Letter: Saddened By Prosecution Of Medical Marijuana User

The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog:

Dear Editor,

As a medical marijuana patient, who also grows marijuana and provides it to others, I was saddened to learn that fellow local grower Jon Peditto was convicted by an Ocean County Jury, here in Toms River, on criminal charges that could land him jail for decades just for growing some cannabis plants, that he occasionally consumed with friends.

While Mr. Peditto wasn't using cannabis for a specific illness, he seemed to utilize cannabis as part of his daily wellness routine, and it is an invasion of his right to privacy for the government to interfere with his ability to do so. He only shared his crop with consenting adults in private settings.

Ocean County Judge James Blaney should free Mr. Peditto on a personal recognizance bond pending sentencing, and sentence him to time-served when sentencing time rolls around, to end this senseless attack on a decent, honest citizen paid for by the taxpayer's dime.

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato should be ashamed of all the police and prosecutorial resources wasted on this unjust case. This demonstrates Coronato really doesn't care about the heroin epidemic, when resources go to pot.



Eric Hafner
Toms River

Letter: Legalize Marijuana

The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog:


Dear Editor,

New Jersey must legalize marijuana. Scientific research has shown cannabis is much safer than alcohol and tobacco.

Medical uses for the plant are numerous and most seriously ill patients can benefit from it, as an alternative to dangerous prescription medications.
New Jersey currently arrests approximately 30,000 people per year on marijuana charges and unfairly brands them with criminal records.
These criminal records cause difficulties in obtaining employment, housing and education.

Until NJ legalizes marijuana, municipalities should pass ordinances declaring enforcement of state marijuana laws unjust and their lowest law enforcement priority.
Police should cease enforcing cannabis prohibition laws and instead focus their limited resources on matters of public safety.


Eric Hafner
Toms River