To the Editor:

Recently the Princeton Cannabis Task Force (CTF) issued a detailed report which recommends up to three recreational dispensaries in town and allows them to be located as close as 200 feet to schools, and requiring no setbacks for child care centers, playgrounds, or houses of worship. The CTF is led by Princeton Council members Eve Niedergang, Leticia Fraga, and Michelle Pirone Lambros. On March 29, a public Council meeting will be held to solicit public opinion on this very issue (register at princetonnj.gov to attend).

Prior to publishing the report, many town residents sent the CTF peer-reviewed studies from the NIH, National Academy of Science, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. There are indeed many negative consequences resulting from an increased cannabis retail presence that have been studied in more mature cannabis markets, such as Colorado, Oregon, and California. These studies have shown or cited results such as increased adult and teen usage due to higher density of cannabis retailers (American Journal on Addictions, 2020) and increased likelihood of marijuana use, as well as increased risk of tobacco use and opioid misuse among children in the household where parents consume marijuana (Madras et al., 2019).

Many research studies also demonstrate reduced educational and occupational outcomes associated with regular cannabis users, an increase in cannabis use disorder (CUD) which leads to addiction (JAMA, 2019 and Drug Alcohol Dependence, September 2015) and other serious public safety concerns. The public safety concerns include not only the increased risk of driving under influence, but also clear evidence of disturbing safety trends in newly legalized markets. These trends include a sharp increase in pediatric emergency room visits due to accidental child cannabis poisonings in markets where there is an increased cannabis retail presence, likely due to the increase in THC content and marijuana edibles. 

However, the CTF chose not to include or downplay these negative impacts in its detailed report.

As it stands today, the Princeton CTF’s recommendation of setbacks of only 200 feet are the most aggressive in the state of New Jersey. The majority of New Jersey towns have opted out of the cannabis program. A count by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities (August 2021) finds that 80 percent of the municipalities about which it has collected information have passed ordinances blocking marijuana businesses — with 360 that have opted out and 90 that have opted in.

Many councils in other towns have surveyed their residents on this issue to ensure democratic principles were upheld. We hope Princeton Council members can truly listen to town residents and apply a democratic approach to this complex and controversial topic. Please go to https://tinyurl.com/DispensarySurvey to make your opinion heard.

Minzhi Liu
Wendover Drive