PAGE A18 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • AUGUST 09, 2018
Opinion
Editorial
Regulate recreational pot
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has put New York on a path to become the 10th state in the United States to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. We’re in favor of jumping on the national movement, so long as it’s done with both eyes wide open. On Aug. 2, Cuomo announced that he was forming a group of 20 experts specializing in public health, safety and economics to draft legislation to regulate the recreational use of marijuana by adults. The bill would go before the state Legislature in January 2019. Laws surrounding marijuana have been gradually shifting since California legalized its medical use in 1996. A number of scientific studies have shown the drug may be beneficial for those suffering from chronic pain, seizures and mental impairments. New York adopted medical marijuana laws in July 2014. The state’s foray into opening the medical marijuana market has been closely regulated. Patients need to be formally diagnosed by a licensed medical practitioner, have it prescribed, register with the state and carry an identification card. The state has limited the number of dispensaries, making for news whenever a site opens. Moving toward decriminalizing recreational use of pot — as its more commonly called — could provide several benefits. Colorado, one of the first states to allow smoking marijuana in 2012, saw an immediate economic boom. It saw a vast spike in tourism, something unlikely to repeat here in New York, but reports show benefits from taxing and regulating what was once an underground market. The Gazette, a Colorado Springs newspaper, reported in July that studies show there’s been an increase in the number of adults who are indulging in marijuana, while the number of high school and middle school students who report testing it out has held steady at or below the national average. Simply put, if a teen was tempted to try it — marijuana’s legality wasn’t stopping them. New York approving legislation allowing for the drug’s recreational use — treating it similarly to alcohol — could open up avenues for regulations of an otherwise black market turning it into a resource to provide tax revenue for the state. The funds would arguably benefit school districts and could be used to help close state budgetary shortfalls while helping offset any further tax hikes. The drafted bill should outline restrictions on smoking up more in line with shifting socially acceptable drugs, like alcohol. We agree age restrictions, limitations on appropriate places and enforcement against drugged driving need to be on the books. The issue becomes, can marijuana be safely, legally and responsibly used? State legislators need to create a carefully crafted, well-thought out bill that sets parameters to allow for regulation of what’s already happening. Each week, TBR News Media reporters see countless incidents of people being arrested for possessing or smoking marijuana — without committing other criminal behavior. Regulate it, create a market and be flexible to amending the laws when — not if — loopholes emerge. It’s time to refocus our law enforcement’s efforts on cracking down on Long Island’s illegal heroin and opioid problems, which can and do result in fatal overdoses and places stress on our health care system.
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Letters to the editor Zeldin only cares about his allies In response to the letter titled “Proud to be on Zeldin enemies list” in The Times of Smithtown July 19 edition, I would like to commend Ms. Gordon for the amazing poise she displayed in light of the treatment she received via the Zeldin goons. The unbecoming conduct that was exhibited at this pathetic campaign event is a tribute to what this most absurd congressman stands for. Lee Zeldin is nothing more than a “Chump” puppet who lacks the ability to contribute one original viewpoint that would in any way improve the lives of the constituents that he is supposed to represent. Zeldin is only concerned with his own upward mobility, echoing every viewpoint that this administration utters and clamoring for a pat on the head by his hero in
the White House. This latest stunt at Smithtown Elks Lodge is proof positive that Zeldin only cares to hear the voices of those that stroke the president’s fragile ego and stand in agreement with his thoughtless policies. His frequent stints on Fox News are direct manifestations of his never-ending desire to simply be seen spouting Trumpisms in a most public forum. He ignores calls from those he deems unworthy, makes appearances at hand-picked establishments where he knows his minions will show up for photo ops and has consistently refused to hold a bipartisan town hall as a representative of the people should do. Zeldin seems to forget that he is not sim-
ply a representative for the right-wingers who pant over the president’s every word, but works instead for everyone in Congressional District 1. Threatening to arrest members of the press and other individuals who went through all of the proper channels to attend a campaign event for a public official is simply a bullying act of cowardice that comes as no surprise to those who demand excellence and equal commitment from those who represent us in the U.S. Congress. This behavior is nothing short of disgusting and a complete contradiction of the decorum expected of a federal officeholder. It will be my pleasure to replace Zeldin come November 2018. Stefanie Werner East Setauket
President has no sense of patriotism
When President Trump departed for Europe last week, it was the unanimous consensus of all 17 American intelligence agencies, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the House and Senate Intelligence committees and the U.S. Department of Justice — supported by an indictment of 12 Russian intelligence officers — that Russia had blatantly interfered in the 2016 presidential election. Moreover, there was no doubt that Russia had annexed Crimea, occupied eastern Ukraine, shot down a Malaysian airliner, assassinated opponents in England and Moscow, and backed the Assad regime in the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians. In Europe, rather than building support among America’s European allies, Trump viciously attacked U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, listed America’s primary foe as the European Union, and undercut the ability of NATO to contain Russian aggression. Having spawned discord in Brussels
and London, Trump arrived in Helsinki, Finland, with an opportunity to confront the Russian tyrant. Instead, in what Sen. John McCain called “one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory,” Trump credited Russian President Vladimir Putin’s denial of waging cyber warfare over his own intelligence agencies assessment, stating he “cannot see any reason to believe Russia interfered in the election.” Moreover, Trump conceded he did not directly criticize or challenge Putin over any other Russian transgression. But Trump did more than absolve Putin — who acknowledged he wanted Trump to be elected president — blaming American “foolishness and stupidity” for tensions in the U.S.–Russia relationship. Trump’s sickening attempt at moral equivalence (“I hold both countries responsible”) between Russia and the United States was condemned by, among others, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney (“claiming a moral equivalence …
undermines our national integrity and impairs our global credibility”), former Speaker Newt Gingrich (“most serious mistake” of Trump presidency), the Wall Street Journal (“national embarrassment”) and Sen. Jeff Flake (“I never thought I would see the day when our American president would stand on the stage with the Russian president and place blame on the United States for Russian aggression”). Former CIA director, John Brennan, after condemning Trump’s performance as “nothing short of treasonous,” asked “Republican patriots: Where are you?” Indeed, will Trump supporters who have ignored and excused his endless litany of lies, policy missteps and moral outrages, finally, in the face of Trump’s betrayal of America and siding with a Russian tyrant over his own country, ask the president, “Have you no sense of patriotism, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of patriotism?” William Schaefer Old Field
President’s actions are sickening President Donald Trump’s recent inhuman act of forcing the separation of children from their parents among certain potential immigrants has been sickening. Such an action, besides infuriating most of us, has also alienated many people in nations around the world. Furthermore, his statement that Democratic presidents — Obama and Clinton — stressed this child/parent separation is a total exaggeration. Twisted accusations of that kind, as well as lying depictions and disgusting policies, are
typical of Trump, who endlessly and severely alters the truth and thereby tarnishes the image of our beloved country. In recent months, his miserable comments aimed at certain foreign leaders have begun to turn heaven knows how many nations against us. Furthermore, his close relationship to Vladimir Putin is nothing short of disgusting, for that man is unworthy of admiration or praise from normal people. As for Trump’s obvious antipathy towards immigration, let me say some-
thing similar to what I have said earlier in these pages: We Americans are either immigrants or the descendants of immigrants — Trump included. Even the ancestors of Native Americans came here from Asia eons ago. Let us pray for those children and their parents who have been forcefully and cruelly separated from one another by this wholly insensitive, selfish, inept, truth-twisting president.
Elio Zappulla Stony Brook