NORTHAMPTON — In the 26 years Jo McGuire has lived in Colorado, some of the most drastic social changes she has seen have come recently, with the legalization of marijuana.
“In Colorado, there are more marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks and McDonald’s combined,” she told an audience of about 50 at an education forum Wednesday at the Senior Center.
A street once known as the “Antique Row” is now called the “Green Mile,” McGuire said. Pot is sold in vending machines and even offered as an incentive with the purchase of a washer and dryer.
McGuire, who serves on the board of directors for the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association and co-chairs the organization’s Marijuana Outreach Committee, was appointed in 2013 to serve on the Colorado Governor’s Task Force to recommend legislative frameworks for marijuana regulation.
She was joined on the panel Wednesday by Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, state Rep. John Scibak, D-South Hadley, and Ruth Potee, an addiction specialist from Greenfield.
Panel members all spoke against Question 4 on the Nov. 8 ballot, which would legalize recreational marijuana. Under the proposed legislation, individuals 21 and older would be able to use, grow and possess the substance as well as grow up to six plants in their home.
Although panelists were against commercial pot, some supported decriminalizing its use or medical marijuana.
“I support medical marijuana for certain conditions where it’s needed,” said Potee, who issues marijuana cards to patients.
But she said there need to be more studies on the effects, particularly on adolescent brain development. She said getting high off pot at a young age can cause issues with attention, memory and learning.
McGuire said taxing and regulating marijuana has been a concern in Colorado. She said the black market for marijuana was not eliminated as expected, and Craigslist is now called the “gray market” and used as a loophole to avoid paying taxes.
Scibak used notes from a presentation prepared by Sen. Jason Lewis, D-Winchester, who could not attend the meeting.
Scibak said the Special Senate Committee on Marijuana, appointed by Gov. Charlie Baker, traveled to Colorado to have a firsthand look at legal pot. Before the trip, seven members were in favor of Question 4 and there was one in opposition, Scibak said. All came back opposed.
The panel addressed concerns about higher levels of THC, the active compound, due to industrialization, as well as regulation, taxation and the inability to test people for THC consumption to determine if a driver is under the influence. But a main topic for the panel was the effects the proposed legislation would have on children.
Although passage of Question 4 would legally allow only adults to purchase pot and THC products, panelists were concerned about the products that look appealing to children and the youth.
Sullivan held up a bag of gummy bears and a brownie to represent a marketing scheme.
“If this candy and brownies and cookies aren’t geared to kids in your mind, then vote yes,” Sullivan said. “But I say, vote no, because this is what the market’s about.”
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.