It took a special legislation session in order for cannabis to be legalized in Connecticut. I could not help but feel once again that this act is much more about money than any other substantial benefit to our state.

It reminds me the adage: just because something is useful (tax revenues) does not mean it is good.

I do understand the social justice/equity elements of this new law. My primary concern remains that legalizing yet another drug and adding it to our plate (remember opioids?) runs counter to my basic sensibilities.

An article by Dr. Brad A. Roberts, “Legalized Cannabis in Colorado Emergency Departments: A Cautionary View of Negative Health and Safety Effects” lays out multiple health and safety issues experienced by cannabis users. These include psychosis, suicide, “decrements in complex decision making,” increases in motor vehicle accidents, etc. And these are just a few of the adverse outcomes people have experienced in Colorado.

Yes, people are treated for cannabis abuse, and it is called “Cannabis Use Disorder.”

Although the social costs of substance use are hard to measure for cannabis, I suspect that for every dollar in revenue generated there will be at least three dollars in social costs. It does not appear that legislators voting yes for legalization took a serious look at cannabis through a science focused health and safety lens.

I understand that some of the taxes on cannabis will be used for essential services in those communities hardest hit by the war on drugs. I do recall that with the major Tobacco Settlement the state received billions of dollars over the years, which seems to have disappeared into the state budget black hole with little being used for anti-tobacco programs.

Our stewardship of now legalized cannabis, its revenues and our efforts to enforce regulations to promote responsible use of cannabis will emerge as critical issues. If the history from Colorado is any lesson, we may regret this path we have taken.

Peter Schultheis lives in Lyme.