The Town of Kiowa Board of Trustees voted 4 to 2 with 1 non-vote, against placing a measure on the November ballot to hold a vote on allowing a marijuana store to open in the town.

Below is an audio recording of the discussion on the motion. Trustee Trevor Smith gave an  eloquent and persuasive rebuttal to the motion. Non-voting town administrators argued in favor.

In public comments prior to the discussion, Sheriff Norton gave the most concrete analysis of the negative consequences to Elbert County from bringing in a marijuana store – numerous and serious.

Had I been given a chance to speak, I would have recalled my experience with child protection and the stressors that can combine to cause bad outcomes to kids. Some time ago, over a span of many years, I provided citizen oversight on Elbert County’s child protection team – a weekly meeting between social workers, law enforcement, and child advocates to discuss ongoing cases.

The common elements to many cases were substance abuse, alcohol abuse, divorce, single parents, unemployment, poor education, etc. Life without these complications is plenty difficult, but add in the above elements and things can get toxic – especially to the kids least able to self protect. That’s when kids got harmed and the harm was often lasting.

Now come the marijuana advocates who talk about filling potholes with marijuana tax revenues and allowing the people to have a vote. They talk about marijuana as if it’s an alternative to alcohol, not an addition to other substances. It’s not an “OR” proposition. It’s an “AND”.

Child protection services were busy 10 years ago. I doubt the case loads have diminished. Oddly, no one from Elbert County was present at the meeting to make the CPT case to the town.

The State of Colorado decriminalized marijuana, but subordinate government bodies have no obligation to accelerate the negative consequences of marijuana by facilitating the marketing of it.

Kiowa Trustees made the right decision. Just barely.