Rotary Log, February 5, 2015: Matt Simon

Posted by Cleo Villaflores

on Feb 10, 2015

Rotary Log for Meeting of February 5, 2015

Article by Cleo Villaflores, Photos by Jim Rini

President Trish started the meeting with her trademark warm welcome. She reminded the club to complete the District Membership survey.

There were several other important announcements. With Valentine’s Day approaching, the Basic Needs committee would like to help spread a little love to area food pantries. Please don't forget to bring a jar of peanut butter to our next lunch meeting. We also want to thank everyone who remembered and brought their jar last week. We collected more than 45 jars!

Joanie Dickinson talked about the Interact Program and asked for members to buy Crush cans for their "crushes!" She then introduced Ava Rohacek and Julia Luff from Portsmouth High School Interact and junior class council. To make Junior Prom Night truly memorable, they are planning a responsible post dance party. It will be a safe, fun, drug-free evening. Our club has donated $250 towards transportation to the junior prom. After speaking with the girls, I learned they are very close to their goal!

Jim Rini introduced our speaker, Matt Simon, New England Political Director for the Marijuana Policy Project. Matt has lobbied for decriminalization of marijuana in New Hampshire. This is a very controversial and multi-faceted issue. According to Matt, in the 80's, the so-called “War on Drugs” made the idea of legalizing marijuana seem obsolete. Since then, the numbers tell a different story. The popular preference on marijuana in New Hampshire now is 52% to legalize and tax.

The Marijuana Policy Project claims that opinions have changed. They say that there are benefits to medical marijuana for patients who are in constant pain. They further maintain that marijuana’s harms are exaggerated and that it’s less harmful than alcohol. Simon pointed to the writings of Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a former legalization opponent. In an article on CNN.com entitled "Why I changed my mind on marijuana," Gupta changes his tune.

Simon gave a brief history on how we got to this point. Originally, the American Medical Association was vigorously opposed to the use of marijuana. Then a DEA administrative judge ruled that, "marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest drugs.” But that finding was later refuted.

New Hampshire is the only New England state where it's criminal to possess any amount of marijuana. Conviction carries with it a fine and up to one year in jail. In closing, Simon claims patients want a safe and legal way to use medical marijuana. He says indications are that there will be four dispensaries open in N.H. by year’s end. There are still many issues surrounding the legalization of pot, not the least of which is how it will affect our youth. This was also a concern, expressed during Q&A, especially by Rotarian parents.

The central question remains...does it make sense to make marijuana legal?

Respectfully submitted, Cleo Villaflores