To the Editor:

We need to have a democratic process for proposals affecting Princeton residents and businesses. One such proposal being reviewed by our town Council is whether to grant license to cannabis retail outlets to operate in our town. This is an important issue that will have ramifications to all Princetonians for many years to come. Hence I urge that our town Council embrace a transparent process to ensure all stakeholder groups are represented in the decision-making process. Listed below are some perspectives.

When access increases, so does its use: Legal access to marijuana increases chances of exposure to illegal substance abuse. It is naive to think the kids and youth that come across these pot shops will just ignore their presence. Younger minds are impressionable and will see these retail pot outlets as yet another stamp of approval that it’s safe to consume marijuana.

Starts with pot, ends with catastrophe: Pot shop presence will most likely attract more illegal drug dealing activity around the vicinity with more potent and lethal drugs. Our nation is reeling under an opioid crisis. Provisional data from CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics estimated overdose deaths in the U.S. from opioids increased to 75,673 in the 12-month period ending in April 2021, up from 56,064 the year before. These are a staggering number of lives and families impacted irreversibly.

Proximity effects on Princeton small businesses: Pot shops — whether located next to a restaurant, gift shop, coffee shop, hair salon, etc. — are bound to have some impact on these nearby businesses as families with children will invariably try and avoid them.

More traffic, more burden on emergency professionals: It is highly likely there would be net increase in traffic on our roads given most of our neighboring towns — Plainsboro, Montgomery, South Brunswick, East and West Windsor, Cranbury, Hopewell, and Robbinsville — have opted out of granting license to pot shops. While we welcome visitors to this beautiful town, we need to be conscious of rise in DUI incidents that inevitably lead to injuries or worse, fatalities. 

This important decision impacts all stakeholders of Princeton — its residents, businesses, and the Princeton University. All need to have an equal seat at the table before the town Council makes a decision guided by facts and full transparency. Equally important is that all stakeholders make their voices heard leading up to the Council meeting on March 29.

Venkat Yj
Windermere Way