I worked for a city police department and the CHP for a total of over 33 years.
I have personally seen the death, injury, the physical and emotional pain caused to innocent victims by those who drive under the influence of drugs.
We have over 3,000 traffic fatalities in California for each year right now.
Statistics indicated 32 percent of all drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes in California, who were tested, tested positive for legal and/or illegal drugs. These statistics are sobering, but we should look at Colorado and Washington experiences to project what would happen to Hollister.
If Hollister became a distribution hub for Gilroy, Morgan Hill, and other cities that have who have outlawed marijuana, what would happen? Logic and past experience has shown that those who want drugs go to the location where they can be obtained the easiest.
Can you imagine the dramatic impact this will have on Hollister and on your safety, as drug users from those cities drive to, from, and through Hollister to obtain their drugs?
How will our strained police department be able to handle these problems?
Please search the Internet for “The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado The Impact September 2016.”
Most of statistics presented below came from this source.
- Colorado marijuana-related traffic deaths increased 62 percent after recreational marijuana was legalized in 2013.
- 77 percent of driving under the influence of drug arrests involved marijuana and another intoxicant and 40 percent involved marijuana only.
- Colorado youth past month marijuana use for 2013-2014 was 74 percent higher than the national average, compared to 39 percent higher in 2011-2012.
- 68 percent of Colorado local jurisdictions have now banned medical and recreational marijuana businesses. (See Pg.16)
If so much tax money can be made and it is such a benefit to local jurisdictions, why have 68 percent of Colorado’s local jurisdictions opted out?
Colorado’s annual tax revenue from the sale of recreational and medical marijuana was $115,579,432 (CY2015) or about 0.5 percent of Colorado’s total statewide budget (FY2016). Did this cover their enforcement, social and other costs?
Washington State recently legalized recreational marijuana and this is what happened:
- Drivers with active THC in their blood involved in a fatal driving accident have increased 122.2 percent. There was a 400 percent increase of marijuana-related DUIs.
- As of January 2016, there were 424 retail marijuana stores in the state of Colorado compared to 322 Starbucks and 202 McDonald’s.
Should we even consider passing a city ordinance that will contribute toward the problems Colorado and Washington are experiencing?
I would hope the answer is no!
The California Association of Highwaypatrolmen,The California Police Chief’s, Association, Los Angeles Police Protective League,, Police officers Research Association of California (PORAC), Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Oakland P. D. and CalFire chiefs are all opposed to the Adult Use of Marijuana Act.
We can avoid the impacts that Colorado and Washington are now experiencing. We don’t need that type of influence in Hollister.
The Hollister ordinance allows for growing, production, packaging, and distribution.
Please let your elected officials know your feelings before it is too late.
– Gary Cameron