Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jan 2012
Source: Burlington County Times (NJ)
Copyright: 2012 Calkins Newspapers. Inc.
Contact: https://phillyburbs-dot-com.bloxcms-ny1.com/contact/
Website: http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/burlington_county_times_news/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2128
Author: Stanley Tafil

MARIJUANA FACILITY LOCATION IS INAPPROPRIATE

The proposed location of a medical marijuana facility at 120 Hancock 
Lane is inappropriate, as recently decided by Westampton's Land 
Development Board.

Growing marijuana is not like growing corn. It is not an 
"agricultural crop" to be sold at a roadside stand. Marijuana is a 
federal and state Schedule I controlled substance, having "high 
potential for abuse" with "lack of accepted safety for use ... under 
medical supervision" (NJAC 8:65-10.1). Marijuana use or possession 
under federal law is illegal.

In spite of assurances that the finished "product" cannot be misused 
(what about the pure growing plants?), as has become evident in other 
states, the criminal and drug-addicted element will gravitate toward 
such a site. That transient crowd is already drawn to the nearby 
hotels and restaurants -- witness Westampton police reports of 
marijuana use and other offenses. Drug paraphernalia has been found 
along the roadside. Break-ins have occurred at the age-restricted 
residential development across the road. Bringing a marijuana growth 
and distribution facility into this mixed-use area would 
geometrically increase this threat.

Since medical insurance plans will not cover medical marijuana 
acquisition, how long will it be before the armed robbery attempts 
begin? Such a facility could make sense only in a single-use 
environment; e.g., an industrial park (with no residences, hotels, 
etc., nearby), where law enforcement personnel could properly isolate 
and monitor who is coming and going.

Other relevant factors: The township engineer, as with the Hilton 
project, should consider the impact of 100 additional vehicles per 
day on a single-lane roadway; what of the school-age youth at the 
Occupational Training Center who walk along Hancock Lane to Route 541 
to catch buses?; what about patients and/or their caregivers 
navigating roads while driving under the influence or "using" along 
residential streets?

The Land Development Board decision must be upheld.

Stanley Tafil

Westampton
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