Communities all across California earlier this year scrambled to pass legislation to ensure local control over medical marijuana regulations.

The state of California passed legislation concerning medical marijuana cultivation that would apply to all municipalities unless they had their own regulations in place. Fairfield and Suisun City wisely enacted policies to ensure local control, but were these policies structured to maximize citizens’ liberty and provide vision for our community?

During hearings about local ordinances, citizens implored our representatives to consider a more tolerant approach to medical marijuana. They were rightfully concerned about how these laws, and different approaches to enforcement, would affect them.

The usual litany of red herring counterarguments were paraded out: Kids are coming to school intoxicated! It’s a gateway drug! Stores will attract criminals looking to steal! These excuses were pretty much copied from 100 years ago when teetotalers were crusading to ban alcohol. All these concerns occur with alcohol today, so should we bring back the 18th Amendment and reactivate the Volstead Act?

Concerns for zoning and safety were mentioned. Large-scale operations have popped up in residential areas, creating fire hazards as unsafe construction and electrical work is done on houses that were not designed to be greenhouses. No one is saying let’s open up a large-scale grow house in a residential area. This activity is done while the plant is illegal to grow; if prohibition were lessened, and opportunities to manufacture were available in more suitable structures in farms or industrial parks, would that minimize the threat to safety?

Even more esoteric concerns were suggested: The stink from the plants would be unbearable! Plants might get too tall and become an eyesore! Can this logic be applied to a certain local large-scale beer brewing facility?

Understandably, there is concern and trepidation about having this kind of business nearby; but no more than if a liquor store were to open up. If a locale is suitable for a liquor store, why shouldn’t it be acceptable for a dispensary?

Unfortunately all the impartial analysis and pleas for liberty will not sway the government’s perception on marijuana. At the end of the day, money reigns supreme. When the revenue from legal marijuana sales surpasses revenue from perpetuating the “war” on marijuana, we the people will finally see a shift in priorities from our leadership.

With the states of Washington and Colorado legalizing recreational marijuana, they have provided case studies that prove Armageddon does in fact not occur when legalization occurs. Both states’ budgets have been bolstered; Colorado expects to rake in $100 million this fiscal year from its marijuana industry. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who once described legalization as “reckless,” now says Colorado’s pot industry is working.

Our local governments are seeking revenue increases for their budgets. This year, it seems their playbook consists of one gambit: raising sales tax rates. What if we explore more creative solutions, one that would increase the sales tax base? Would this additional revenue stream from medical marijuana sales bolster our budgets and fund more services, without being an additional burden on taxpayers that don’t want to participate?

Change is swirling in the air concerning marijuana in America. California is in the midst of one of the biggest years legislatively for marijuana policy. Citizens are wary of knee-jerk enforcement reactions to marijuana use and distribution that have done little to change use patterns, but managed to derail lives instead of improve them.

Will our local leadership double down on failed 50-year-old policies, or steer our community to benefit from these winds of change?

Brian Thiemer is chairman of the Solano County Libertarian Party. He can be reached at [email protected].