We, the people of New Albany, know that you often have a lot on your plate and there is a matter that is on your plate today that is of great concern to many of your constituents. I refer, of course to the issue of pot shops, growing facilities, and processing facilities for marijuana and whether they should be allowed in the city we love so well.
My brother got into marijuana in the 1970’s. As a gateway drug, he graduated to alcohol, harder drugs, his health sank, and he died at 48 years of age. I saw what happened to him and, although it was tragic, what followed was also tragic. My father had never had a heart attack before, but he had two heart attacks directly after my brother’s death and died four weeks after my brother died. Technically--he died of heart failure, but he was a wonderful man. He loved all his children and what he really died of was grief—of heartbreak. I saw it. My mother had lost her son and her husband in a month. She was never the same as before. She lived 2 and a half sad years later and, after a stint in the nursing home, she too passed away as well. Drugs don’t just affect those that take them. They affect everybody. They sure affected my family, and they will affect the people of this city unless you change the planned course.
