To the Editor:

Princeton’s Cannabis Task Force has recommended that Princeton allow up to three shops to sell marijuana in our town in clear violation of federal law. While Princeton has no obligation to enforce federal law, it would be irresponsible to knowingly encourage federal crimes. Marijuana shops would attract more criminal activity, potentially including armed robberies, thefts, and burglaries, and increased sales of marijuana to minors.

The large amounts of cash and drugs on hand at marijuana retailers make them attractive targets for violent criminals. Many credit card payment processors will not deal with marijuana retailers because their businesses are unlawful. So marijuana retailers accumulate large amounts of cash, creating far greater risk of armed robbery than other merchants. Recently, a man armed with a handgun threatened a Bethlehem, Pa., pot shop worker before fleeing with stolen marijuana. Robberies of dispensaries in Oregon and Oklahoma left two people shot dead. There have been strings of armed robberies in Portland, Denver, and San Francisco. Marijuana retailers across the country have suffered similar crimes.

Apart from being targets of crime, marijuana shops also lead to an increase in property crimes in surrounding neighborhoods. According to the Department of Justice, 17 percent of state prisoners committed their crimes to obtain money for drugs. So it is not surprising that studies have found that opening marijuana shops increases property crimes in nearby areas (“Marijuana Outlets and Crime in an Era of Changing Marijuana Legislation,” J Primary Prevent, 2017; “The Criminogenic Effect of Marijuana Dispensaries in Denver, Colorado,” Justice Evaluation Journal, 2019).

The Cannabis Task Force asserts, without evidence, that allowing marijuana retailers to operate in Princeton would help to eliminate Princeton’s illegal cannabis market. But underground markets have flourished in states with legalized marijuana (“California’s legal weed industry can’t compete with illicit market,” Politico, 2021). One reason for this is the punitive taxation associated with licensed operations. Unlike other merchants, marijuana shops pay federal income taxes on essentially all their sales, even if their businesses are not profitable. New Jersey and Princeton would each impose additional taxes on sales. This crushing tax burden creates a huge incentive to divert legal product to illicit markets. Indeed, states have found that a large portion of legally produced marijuana is sold illegally. There is no reason to think that individuals selling diverted product illegally will limit their sales to adults. Incredibly, the Cannabis Task Force recommends that convicted drug criminals should be viewed as desirable marijuana shop owners and employees. It is foolish to expect that previously convicted drug dealers will scrupulously follow New Jersey laws prohibiting sales to minors.

Lawrence Township has authorized marijuana shops on nearby Route 1. Princeton residents who want marijuana will be able to buy it there. Delivery services will also be available. Princeton would not benefit from these shops operating in our town, but we would have to live with the crime that they attract. We should seek to reduce crime in our neighborhoods, not attract more of it.

Gabe Saltarelli
Nassau Street