A bunch of gutless cowards who cannot bring themselves to take a position on a matter of individual liberty, to say nothing of the tax revenue at stake. I have known individuals who despise marijuana and never wanted it legalised, and yet even one such person regards this particular ballot question as a waste of everyone’s time, given the majority of marijuana users are going to consume it regardless. I say ‘the majority’, for crossing the border into Rhode Island, Connecticut, or Vermont proves neither especially practical nor easy for most individuals who do not reside in immediate proximity to those states — especially if they are disabled, as myself am. Ten minutes behind the wheel, and my nerves are shot. Also, and only speaking for myself, I am never going back to having to rely on shady dealers, and being sold Lord only knows what. Spent too many years and endured too many headaches, and I am pushing fifty. Never — but a lot of folks will, of course.
One August poll found fifty-five per cent of registered voters opposed to repeal, yet I am offended that this question ever found its way onto the ballot in the first place. Nine statewide ballot questions, furthermore, constitute an absurdity in its own right. With voters obliged to work their way through that many measures — upon ballots expected to run two or three pages in length — one can scarcely pretend that voter fatigue is not a legitimate concern. Or diminished literacy and shortened attention spans. I’ve not yet made up my mind on every question, but how many of these measures are truly necessary, anyway? Q8 sure as hell is not.
Copyright 2026, Arthur Newhook.
