Guest Column: Liberty and Legal Marijuana at Risk in Allegany County

By Andrew Harris

On the eve of ending the prohibition on cannabis our elected leaders have some very important choices before them.  How they legislate will have a direct impact on every citizen, our economy, and our future.  While standing on this new ground, we must focus the natural anxieties about such a big change and demand policy which capitalizes on this opportunity.   Making the best decisions today can lead to a flood of jobs, capital, and the many benefits of a founding principle in this land: Liberty.     

We don’t have the specifics on New York’s plan to legalize recreational marijuana yet, but we can make some safe assumptions.  The retail market for the myriad of products derived from this plant in just little old Allegany County is in the fifty million dollar range.  For the entire state, that number is likely to exceed one billion dollars.  Essentially, we are about to legalize a marketplace similar to the wine industry that has famously provided upstate NY with thousands of jobs and millions in annual revenue.  The sales tax, excise tax, income tax, payroll tax, and property tax that will be generated is staggering and exciting.

This opportunity for our county, towns, and villages is a once-in-a-lifetime economic boom in an ever depressing economy.  There is no other ship like this on the horizon; and it will sail by if we don’t embrace this powerful plant.  Based on the scuttle coming from Belmont, our county leaders are planning a resolution AGAINST LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA. 
Our county leaders seem willing to deny citizens, investors, and taxpayers this game changing liberty.  A resolution against the end of this prohibition will send a strong message to investors—Don’t set up shop in Allegany County.  Those investors will look to other counties and potential revenues will never be realized.  More young people will leave, tax monies will fill other coffers, and our county will stay stuck in economic decline.  The chance to convert our empty manufacturing facilities, the chance to develop a cottage industry out of thin air, and the chance to lower our tax rate will disappear quickly should our leaders resist. 

Legislators, town and village officials, and county officials can’t be allowed to use antiquated beliefs to further marginalize Allegany County.  Decades of bad policy has yielded rotten fruit: The highest taxes in the nation, a “welfare state,” and a steady outflow of people and capital.  Investors are watching and planning now.  The failure to embrace this new marketplace will be the largest self-inflicted wound possible at a time when we need this stimulus. 

Our elected leaders must allow this ship to dock in Allegany County.  We need the quality jobs and all the other benefits of legal marijuana.  The plant has the amazing power to help us become a healthier and wealthier county in a very short time.  Our leaders have the chance to facilitate this change and deliver renewal.   Like Bob Dylan declared, “Keep your eyes wide, the chance won’t come again.”
All citizens have a stake in this new law.  Whether you are a potential investor, grower, or consumer.  Whether you own a home, pay income tax, drive on our roads, work for our government, or just visit Allegany County a few times a year.  This new freedom, new economic driver, and brand new chance at economic revival demands your voice.  Please contact any or all of the following county leaders and insist on being heard.  Feel free to contact me anytime for assistance and stay tuned for the important public meetings to come. 

Andrew Harris    585 610 5258    Sunsetsolarfarm@yahoo.com

Sheriff Ricky Whitney  WhitneyRl@alleganyco.com

Undersheriff, Kevin Monroe  MonroeK@alleganyco.com

Lori Ballangee, Health Department   ballenl@alleganyco.com

Deb Root, Human Services  RootD@alleganyco.com5569 Wolfspring Rd.,Scio, NY 14880
716.498.4303 (c)

Judy Hopkins, Human Services  hopkinsj@alleganyco.com

11038 Rt19A
Fillmore, NY 14735
585.567.8974

Steve Havey, Human Services haveys@alleganyco.com

County Office Building, Room 201
7 Court Street
Belmont, NY 14813
585.268.5500 (w)
585.808.5418 (c)

Gary Barnes, Human Services  barnesg@alleganyco.com

1 Highland Heights Drive
Wellsville, NY 14895
585.296.3795 (h)

Janice Burdick, Human Services  burdickj@alleganyco.com

5704 East Valley Rd.
Alfred Station, NY 14803
607.587.8812 (h)
607.382.3093 (c)

David Decker, Human Services  deckerd@alleganyco.com

9314 County Road 7
Cuba, NY 14727
585.968.8409 (h)

Phillip Stockin, Human Services stockinp@alleganyco.com

9790 Luckey Drive
Houghton, NY 14777
585.567.4162

Curt Crandall, Chairman  CrandallCW@alleganyco.com

28 Sherman St PO Box 183
Belfast, NY 14711
585.365.2372 (h)
716.372.1717(b)
716.268.9446 (f)