Editorial: As recreational pot sales begin in CT, history offers lessons moving forward

It’s a historic week in Connecticut, as the sale of recreational marijuana finally becomes legal. Witnessing history is also a good time to consider lessons of the distant, as well as the recent past. To many, not allowing marijuana to be legal until now seems as ridiculous as the Prohibition of the 1920s, when alcohol consumption was taboo across the United States. That all seems like a folly a century later, yet the potential perils of alcohol continue to be downplayed in American society. No one likes to ruin the party with such chatter, yet the same question is reliably asked after any tragic automobile accident: Was the driver under the influence? This ties to recent history lessons as well. Colorado was the first state to embrace legalized marijuana. That was in 2012, more than a decade ago. Other states kept one eye on Colorado while considering the ramifications of following suit. • Would there be a rise in DUI cases? • Would use of recreational marijuana expand beyond the consumer base for the illegal market? • Would legal dispensaries lure other criminal activity? Skeptics embraced reports such as one from Colorado’s Division of Criminal Justice in 2019 indicating a 45 percent rise in the number of drivers testing positive for more than one substance. The numbers spiked even higher since then. Remarkably, there is still not a breathalyzer for marijuana, leaving law enforcement officials to make judgments based on roadside and blood tests. That will likely change over time, as experts strive to develop such devices, but it’s pretty remarkable that a decade has passed without them. Ten years ago, it was also commonly believed that the primary customers would be those who were already purchasing products illegally. Yet the illicit market continues to thrive, a potential setback for states such as Connecticut that are trying to boost tax dollars with a new industry. But history also shows us habits can change. It took generations for tobacco use to decline, which has been for the greater good of the nation’s health. A recent Gallup poll indicates more Americans smoke marijuana than cigarettes, a stunning statistic given that pot is still not legal in more than half the country. So Americans have come to accept that tobacco is harmful, and the majority express faith in the health benefits of marijuana usage. Colorado offers other cautionary tales as well, as dispensary storefronts have been linked to increases on crimes in those neighborhoods. These are not arguments against legalization, merely areas that call for vigilant consideration. It’s also a counter warning to what seems to be a Pollyanna launch in some corners of Connecticut, including the governor’s office. Recreational marijuana is here to stay in Connecticut, just like alcohol and tobacco use. But it demands an even higher attention to detail from consumers, with each town setting its own rules. Yes, it’s a historic week, but consider the past while stepping onto the future.

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