Wow! For a political newcomer who was sold to voters as an amazing listener and understanding of all perspectives, Sen. Russ Huxtable really pulled the wool over the eyes of his constituents.
Before hearings of the Senate Health and Social Services Committee and both sides of the debate sharing testimony and public comment in the chamber, Huxtable took it upon himself and jumped on the progressive bandwagon by lending his name as a co-sponsor of two bills legalizing marijuana in Delaware. Just to be clear, we know most liberal Democrats love legal weed, but that is not how candidate Huxtable campaigned to Cape Region voters. Huxtable’s carefully choreographed door-to-door image was that of a thoughtful notetaker and someone who heard all sides before acting. Disappointingly, as has been shared by many, that choreography was just a slick charade.
Medical science is only now beginning to understand marijuana’s increasing impact on public health, with pediatric edible poisonings growing from 207 in 2017 to 3,054 in 2021, according to federal statistics. Legal weed also coincides with an increase in driving while high. The percentage of driving deaths involving marijuana more than doubled from 2000-18, according to a 2021 study in the American Journal of Public Health. Is that really what we want on our local roads? If you and your family are already annoyed by the smell and clouds of vape smoke blown in your face on bike trails, the beach or boardwalk, get ready. Sen. Huxtable, did you even think to ask your local chambers of commerce, police, educators and medical professionals their opinions before you co-sponsored legal weed?
With controversial topics such as this, people can agree to disagree, and an up or down vote is part of the job. But a quality public servant, of which there are many on both sides of the aisle, should at least have the decency and good faith to be upfront about where they stand after listening to constituents and gathering facts. Sen. Huxtable didn’t feel it important to do either regarding legal weed. He obviously already knows what is best for your family and our community. Forget about science and public health. It's just fake news to Huxtable, and I am sadly disappointed that he is not a man of his word!
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