Mayor's Message:
Cannabis, Social Equity, Reform
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Dear Jazz,
What is cannabis? Although this sounds like a silly question, allow me to explain. Cannabis is a psychoactive drug derived from the saliva of Cannabaceae plants. For thousands of years, cannabis has been used for its medicinal properties by many civilizations, including ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Indian, Hindus, Greeks, and more. In the 1800s, cannabis was officially introduced into western medicine by William O'Shaughnessy, an Irish physician. In only 50 short years, cannabis had made its way to the U.S. By 1970, it was classified as a Schedule 1 type drug deemed dangerous with high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use (source).
But as times have changed, so has our understanding of the drug. The ideology that cannabis is a gateway drug or its use leads to increased crime is just not true. As stated by Discovery Institute, there is no evidence to suggest that using cannabis leads to an increase in crime. Conversely, a study published by the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization found that marijuana legalization in Colorado reduced violent crime. The study analyzed data from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports and found that murder rates decreased ten (10) percent after the legalization of marijuana. That is why after its Schedule 1 classification, states throughout the United States began to approve and legalize cannabis for recreational and medicinal purposes.
In November 2020, New Jersey voters approved the legalization of recreational cannabis for adults 21 or older to consume within the privacy of their homes.
It is time to let go of the negative attitude toward individuals who choose to use cannabis. The recreational use of cannabis is on par with the recreational use of alcohol and cigarettes. If it's socially acceptable to visit your local liquor store, we must also deem it acceptable to visit a local dispensary.
Social Equity, at its most basic, refers to policies concerned with justice and fairness, in which everyone gets what they need regardless of race, class, gender, or background. Social equity also accounts for the reality that despite everyone having access to the same resources, it does not necessarily level the playing field. The war on drugs in the United States effectively weaponized cannabis against Black Americans and other communities of color. People of color were treated harsher and sentenced more severely than Caucasians when found in possession of marijuana.
We have many residents who were adversely impacted by the war on drugs, and we wanted to ensure there was a path that would allow them to benefit from the new laws surrounding cannabis. We look forward to seeing those individuals involved and profiting from our embrace of the industry in the coming month and years.
The legalization of cannabis across New Jersey must provide significant relief to those who need it most in more than one way. With sales reaching billions. The benefits that this industry can have for a community are extraordinary. Local cannabis industries will bring residents revenue, jobs, and investment opportunities. We must take this opportunity for reform and break free from the stigma the war on drugs placed on us, and we must push for swift expungement of records for those who the justice system unjustly punished.
I am proud to say that the City of Plainfield has embraced the cannabis industry by an over seventy (70) percent referendum. As the CRC awards licenses in the coming weeks and months, we will welcome new cannabis businesses as part of our local economy. The revenues earned will go directly to the bottom line of the city's budget and help provide tax stabilization and relief to property owners.
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Creating One Plainfield. One Future | | |
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Mayor Adrian O. Mapp
City of Plainfield
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Cannabis, Equidad Social, Reforma | |
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Querido Plainfield,
¿Qué es el cannabis? Aunque esto suena como una pregunta tonta, permítanme explicar. El cannabis es una droga psicoactiva derivada de la saliva de las plantas Cannabaceae. Durante miles de años, el cannabis ha sido utilizado por sus propiedades medicinales por muchas civilizaciones, incluidos los antiguos egipcios, chinos, indios, hindúes, griegos y más. En la década de 1800, William O'Shaughnessy, un médico irlandés, introdujo oficialmente el cannabis a la medicina occidental. En solo 50 cortos años, el cannabis llegó a los Estados. Unidos. Para el 1970, el cannabis se clasificó como una droga tipo 1 considerada peligrosa con un alto potencial de abuso y sin uso médico actualmente aceptado (fuente).
Pero a medida que los tiempos han cambiado, también lo ha hecho nuestra comprensión de la droga. La ideología de que el cannabis es una droga de entrada o que su uso conduce a un aumento de delincuencia simplemente no es cierta. Como afirma Discovery Institute, no hay evidencia que sugiera que el consumo de cannabis provoque un aumento de la delincuencia. Por el contrario, un estudio publicado por el Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization encontró que la legalización de la marihuana en Colorado redujo los delitos violentos. El estudio analizó datos de Uniform Crime Reports del FBI y encontró que las tasas de asesinatos disminuyeron un diez (10) por ciento después de la legalización de la marihuana. Es por eso que después de su clasificación como tipo 1, los estados de los Estados Unidos comenzaron a aprobar y legalizar el cannabis con fines recreativos y medicinales.
En noviembre de 2020, los votantes de Nueva Jersey aprobaron la legalización del cannabis recreativo para que los adultos mayores de 21 años para el consu en la privacidad de sus hogares.
Es hora de dejar de lado la actitud negativa hacia las personas que eligen consumir cannabis. El uso recreativo del cannabis está a la par del uso recreativo del alcohol y los cigarrillos. Si es socialmente aceptable visitar su licorería local, también debemos considerarlo aceptable visitar un dispensario local.
La Equidad Social, en su forma más básica, se refiere a las políticas relacionadas con la justicia y la equidad, en las que todos obtienen lo que necesitan, independientemente de su raza, clase, género o antecedentes. La equidad social también da cuenta de la realidad de que, a pesar de que todos tienen acceso a los mismos recursos, no necesariamente nivela el campo de juego. La guerra contra las drogas en los Estados Unidos convirtió el cannabis en un arma contra los afroamericanos y otras comunidades de color. Las personas de color fueron tratadas con más dureza y sentenciadas con mayor severidad que los caucásicos cuando se les encontraba en posesión de marihuana.
Tenemos muchos residentes que se vieron afectados negativamente por la guerra contra las drogas, y queríamos asegurarnos de que hubiera un camino que les permitiera beneficiarse de las nuevas leyes que rodean al cannabis. Esperamos ver a esas personas involucradas y beneficiándose de nuestra adopción de la industria en los próximos meses y años.
La legalización del cannabis en Nueva Jersey debe brindar un alivio significativo a quienes más lo necesitan en más de una forma. Con ventas que alcanzan miles de millones. Los beneficios que esta industria puede tener para una comunidad son extraordinarios. Las industrias locales de cannabis generarán ingresos, empleos y oportunidades de inversión para los residentes. Debemos aprovechar esta oportunidad de reforma y liberarnos del estigma que la guerra contra las drogas nos impuso, y debemos presionar para que se eliminen rápidamente los registros de aquellos que el sistema de justicia castigó injustamente.
Me enorgullece decir que la ciudad de Plainfield ha adoptado la industria del cannabis en un referéndum de más del setenta (70) por ciento. A medida que el CRC otorgue licencias en las próximas semanas y meses, daremos la bienvenida a nuevos negocios de cannabis como parte de nuestra economía local. Los ingresos obtenidos irán directamente a la línea de fondo del presupuesto de la ciudad y ayudarán a proporcionar estabilización y alivio de impuestos a los propietarios.
Creando Un Plainfield. Un Futuro
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Alcalde Adrian O. Mapp
Ciudad de Plainfield
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SAVE THE DATE | Trail Marker Dedication for the Late Mayor Albert T. McWilliams | |
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED| Clean the Queen Event
Saturday, May 7, 2022
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NATIONAL NEWS | USCIS Announces Online Filing for DACA Renewal Forms | |
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, that people may now file Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal requests online.
What Does This Mean?
If you were previously granted DACA, you now have the option to file your renewal Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization online. You also must include the Form I-765 Worksheet.
To file online, you must first create a myUSCIS account. The account is free and allows you to track your case, respond to requests for evidence, and communicate with USCIS online. For these reasons, the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) encourages you to file immigration benefit requests online.
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LOCAL NEWS: Plainfield Welcomes New Medical Testing Company Providence Healthcare Diagnostics
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PLAINFIELD, NJ — Providence Healthcare Diagnostics (PHDx) opens a new location in Plainfield, New Jersey. Patients will receive superior service, customized solutions, swift results, and accurate diagnostics at PHDx. For COVID-19 testing, there are three types offered: RT-PCR, Rapid Molecular (NAAT), and Rapid Antigen tests. Community members can access convenient COVID-19 testing via fast onsite drive-thru testing, offsite events, or scheduled group testing appointments at any facility.
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Ban on Plastic Bags and and Foam Service Products | Effective May 4, 2022 | |
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The New Law, P.L. 2020, c.117, becomes effective on May 4, 2022. The law bans the provision or sale of all single-use plastic carryout bags and polystyrene foam food service products, single-use paper carryout bags in groceries equal to or larger than 2500 sq. ft. and limits plastic straw distribution to by-customer-request-only as of November 4, 2021.
This is a statewide ban that applies to all retail, grocery stores, and food service businesses, from restaurants, delis, coffee shops to food trucks and cafeterias.
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ETIQUETTE WORKSHOP | LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE
REGISTER TODAY!
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We are pleased to present an interactive program to develop the skills and self-confidence needed to successfully navigate a broad range of social settings. Limited spaces available - REGISTER TODAY! | |
Love Plainfield Initiative | |
¿ How Do You Show Love For Plainfield? | |
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A MESSAGE FROM UNION COUNTY:
Explore Your Wild Side at Union County's Wild
Earth Fest, May 1
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Union County’s popular Wild Earth Fest and Touch-a-Truck events are returning to the Watchung Reservation in Mountainside for the first time in two years. Both events will be held on Sunday, May 1, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., rain or shine. Please note that pets are not permitted at these events.
“Wild Earth Fest is a unique event that combines hands-on fun, games, music and magic with new opportunities to learn and interact with our natural surroundings, helping to raise awareness about the importance of conservation and environmental stewardship here in the Union County community and globally, too,” said County Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY:
Governor Murphy Renews Call for Legislature to Pass Comprehensive Gun Safety Bill Package First Unveiled in April 2021
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PATERSON – Governor Phil Murphy today visited Saint Luke Baptist Church in Paterson to urge legislators to take action and pass a comprehensive gun safety legislative package that was initially proposed by the Governor in April 2021. In December 2021, the Governor was joined by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin in Metuchen to urge the passage of the majority of these gun safety bills. If passed by the Senate and Assembly and signed into law, the bill package discussed today would be the third wide-ranging gun safety package signed by the Governor since taking office.
The Governor was joined for the announcement by Congressman Bill Pascrell, Senator Nellie Pou, Senator Joe Cryan, Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh, gun safety advocates, and faith leaders.
“The bills that I introduced one year ago are basic measures that will keep guns out of the wrong hands, help law enforcement apprehend the perpetrators of gun violence, and hold the gun industry accountable for its deceptive and dangerous practices,” said Governor Murphy. “I hope to work with my Legislative partners to continue making New Jersey a national leader in gun safety and prevent the meaningless violence and loss of life that results from the gun violence epidemic.”
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A MESSAGE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE:
White House Releases 2022 National Drug Control Strategy that Outlines Comprehensive Path Forward to Address Addiction and
the Overdose Epidemic
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Today, President Biden sent his Administration’s inaugural National Drug Control Strategy to Congress at a time when drug overdoses have taken a heartbreaking toll, claiming 106,854 lives in the most recent 12-month period. The Strategy delivers on the call to action in President Biden’s Unity Agenda through a whole-of-government approach to beat the overdose epidemic.
The Strategy focuses on two critical drivers of the epidemic: untreated addiction and drug trafficking. It instructs federal agencies to prioritize actions that will save lives, get people the care they need, go after drug traffickers’ profits, and make better use of data to guide all these efforts.
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HELP US TAKE CARE OF OUR CITY!
DOWNLOAD THE REPORT- IT APP
Available in IOS and Android Mobile Phones
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Exercise your civic duty-- be the eyes and ears of our City! Your reports can greatly increase the quality of life in our Plainfield community. Let's work together to keep our city safe- If you see it, say it with ReportIt. | |
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Use the app, or text
reportit to 63975
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Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and the City of Plainfield are committed to making it as easy as possible to report concerns in our city. To that end, we've partnered with REPORT IT, which is now live in Plainfield and ready to be used as an important supplemental reporting tool.
Report it makes community reporting easier than ever! Residents and visitors can download the app by scanning the barcode above or by going to your phone's app store. Your reports will be submitted to the appropriate City department to be resolved.
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Call us at: 908.753.3015 or
E:communications@plainfieldnj.gov
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|THE CITY OF PLAINFIELD NJ|
515 WATCHUNG AVENUE | 908-753-3310| MONDAY-FRIDAY | 9 A.M.- 5 P.M.|
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Creating One Plainfield. One Future | | | | |
