To the Editor:

The release of the Princeton Cannabis Task Force (CTF) report in late November of 2021 has prompted ongoing public debates for over five months. Among all meetings I have attended, both public and private, the voices against retail cannabis remain an overwhelming majority. Participation in the discussion has broken some records in the recent history of Princeton. For example, at the March 29 special mayor and Council meeting, about 350 people participated in the Zoom call. With 60+ people raising their hands, waiting for their 3-minute public comment, the mayor had to end the meeting and set up a follow up meeting on May 17 so each resident who wants to comment can speak. Among comments made in these public meetings and all the opinion letters sent to various local media, the majority of them are opposing the opening of retail cannabis.

On one hand, it is very impressive for me, a first-generation immigrant from a place where public debate simply does not exist, to see how Princeton demonstrated this great democratic process. On the other hand, I could not stop but asking myself: Is opening a few retail cannabis stores really worth the efforts and time for everyone involved?

By now, I have had opportunities talking to pretty much every elected official in Princeton. A common theme I gathered so far is Princeton has so many ongoing issues and the opening of retail cannabis does not seem to be on the top of the list.

I recently joined a dialogue with 19 other residents. The main topic was retail cannabis but we also talked about other things. Among these participants, there were long-term Princeton residents but the majority of us were first-generation immigrants from all over the world: China, Indian, Cuba, and Europe. Ethnicity-wise, the group consists of Asians, Black, Latinx, and White. Coming from all walks of lives, we have two things in common: the love of Princeton and opposing the opening of retail cannabis in town. Sitting in that meeting with everyone’s camera on, I really hoped CTF members could have noticed us before they started to draft the “unanimous” report in their echo chamber: They have missed so many things and so many people. As a result, the report created more trouble and divisiveness among us than what it claimed to resolve.

It’s time for the council to listen to the public and show leadership: disband the CTF. To the CTF members who are our fellow Princetonians, as much as I respect their volunteerism, the impressive title they might have, and achievements they have reached in their professions, the sum of the CTF work really has not demonstrated any good to our town. It is very one-sided, misleading, superficial, divisive, and has added unnecessary workload to drain the brain power of our elected officials.

Mr. Mayor and Council members, please disband CTF and end this retail cannabis discussion in Princeton.

Shenwei Zhao
Prospect Avenue