Legalizing marijuana isn’t worth the risk

We raise our children with the intent of doing the best for them.

We get them involved in activities such as the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, dance class, and sporting events with the intention that they may find one of the activities enjoyable and want to continue in that event as they grow older.

We as parents try to set the example to do what is best for our kids and teach them to be interested in learning what is good, and as parents search out vital information on strategies to protect our children from harm.

Again this 2018 General Assembly, some members have introduced legislation to legalize the sale of marijuana to persons 21 or older at the local marijuana sales corner store and purchase a certain amount of marijuana to smoke without penalty.

It is naive to believe that some 21-year-olds or older persons are going to purchase the marijuana drug at the corner store legally with the intent to resell this substance for profit where we send our children where we, as parents, believe our children are safe.

Why are some members of the General Assembly and paid lobbyists from out of state putting our citizens at risk?

Some would argue that illegal drugs and alcohol problems already exist. That may be true, but as parents and grandparents we already have enough to worry about illegal drug and alcohol activity. Why add to the problem legally by making it easier to purchase this federal illegal Schedule I drug, adding to the existing problem?

Question: How do you resolve an opioid problem in this state by allowing a drug to be sold legally that could lead to an opioid addiction?

Second question: How is smoking or ingesting smoke into the lungs and into the bloodstream beneficial to the health of anyone with or without existing physical conditions?

Selling marijuana legally to add money to the state budget is poor planning for the future of our state, and especially our younger generation.

I urge families to protect your children from unnecessary harm and health risk, contact your state senator and state representative, and demand they not support legislation to legalize the sale of marijuana in any form in Rhode Island.

It is simply not worth it. We want Rhode Island citizens, especially the younger generation, protected by political leaders. Bob Kells South Kingstown Kells is a retired police chief of Lincoln and former state senator, representing District 2 in Providence.