The City of Gluckstadt’s Board of Aldermen experienced its first split vote over medical marijuana in its March meeting – ultimately opting out with a 3-2 vote.
In the city’s February meeting, they decided to invite the public to speak at their next meeting on the matter to vote after each individual who signed up was given their five minutes to give their opinion. Sheriff Randy Tucker didn’t take a side when he spoke, but rather explained the law and the burden it would put on law enforcement. He was followed by seven individuals from Madison County. All but one were in favor of Gluckstadt staying opted in to medical marijuana – one business owner even said he was planning on bringing millions to the Gluckstadt area through his medical marijuana business.
However, once everyone had expressed their opinion, Alderman Wesley Slay made the motion to opt out. The motion was seconded by Alderwoman Lisa Williams. Alderwoman Miya Warfield-Bates joined them in the vote. This left Alderman John Taylor and Alderman Jayce Powell in the minority with their votes to allow the distribution, cultivation and processing in Gluckstadt.
Both Bates and Williams cited the newness of the city as one of the reasons they voted not to participate in the new bill.
“As everyone knows, Gluckstadt is a new city,” Bates said. “We are still in the process of laying out the foundation on what the citizens of Gluckstadt want our city identity to be. Opting out allows the city time to continue to establish the basic needs that a city needs to be able function and operate.”
Williams said Gluckstadt is still in its first fiscal year with three employees, operating on an annual budget between $2-3 million focused on the formation of the city police department, and just swore in its first police chief in the same meeting on March 8.
“We are not operating with a $40 million budget,” Williams said. “Law enforcement representatives know what effects the new law can have in our community. The facts are there from across the nation to support the concerns. Some of those are an increase in blackmarket illegal drugs, firearms trafficking, and child trafficking. The main reason I support the opt out for the City of Gluckstadt is there is no need to put more burden on our law enforcement whether at state, county or municipal levels. Gluckstadt is not equipped to be able to manage the side effects added to law enforcement if opted in. While others may not agree, my hope is the citizens and business owners understand and appreciate the board decision.”
Tucker anticipates the new allowance of medical marijuana will increase law enforcement’s workload by a third. Slay said he isn’t opposed to and would likely support the medical use of marijuana if it were properly regulated. However, he said it is clear the state will not adequately control any phase of the drug’s production, processing or distribution.
“I fear the sale and use of marijuana will be abused and, as with many other cities that have it, will rapidly become a recreational drug. Please remember that marijuana is considered a Schedule 1 substance and not permitted by Federal Law,” Slay said.
The two aldermen who supported having medical marijuana did so after talking to the community and choosing to vote in alignment with what the community wanted. Taylor said he asked everyone he has come into contact with the past six weeks for their thoughts and most people responded that if it went as planned, they were all for it. Some cited concerns that people would break the law and “smoke the dope” and ruin neighborhoods, however, he decided to put his faith in the people.
“I think people are tired – I know I am – of government intrusion in their lives and the face masks and vaccine mandates and being told what to do with their lives,” Taylor said. Although the vote didn’t go his way, Taylor said he wasn’t disappointed with the outcome one bit but rather was fascinated with the procedure.
“I continue to be proud of the mayor the way he conducts meetings and explains things to people,” Taylor said. “I think he is doing a fantastic job, and I think he lowers the temperature on everything. Everyone has their own opinion and marijuana is not a sword I want to die on. I just felt differently than the other people on the board. I think our system of government is beautiful, and it works perfectly. Everyone had their say, and we all had our vote. I’m just amazed at the whole process and glad to be an American.”
Powell said he was disappointed with the outcome and doesn’t feel it was a reflection of what the citizens of Gluckstadt wanted. He also made a point to talk to those in the community and said the response was overwhelmingly in favor of not opting out.
“I wanted to do my due diligence to make sure I was informed. I talked to a lot of people, and it was overwhelming that the citizens and business owners in Gluckstadt did not want us to opt out.”
He said he talked to business owners, citizens, realtors, architects, doctors, physical therapists, and nurse practitioners. Those in the medical field he spoke to about the benefits of medical marijuana said they were in 100 percent agreement that there are strong medical benefits for it. Powell said his father had cancer in 1993 and medical marijuana helped him tremendously.
“He was given a synthetic form of THC or medical marijuana, and it helped with his nausea and appetite. It was strictly done in the hospital at that time but they were doing it in 1993.”
Powell said he voted how he voted due to community’s opinion and he thinks it would be the conclusion that anyone would come to if they went and talked to the people in the community
