A few days ago — on January 10 — Connecticut’s legal consumer cannabis businesses opened and began purveying an intoxicating array of products for legal consumption following the state making possession and use legal for individuals 21 and over.

According to Governor Ned Lamont, the opening of the adult-use cannabis market in Connecticut, the 19th state to do so, marks the start of an expanded cannabis industry that prioritizes the safe and equitable regulation of adult-use cannabis, as well as the preservation of the medical marijuana market, which continues to serve nearly 50,000 patients in the state.

The 2021 law implementing these measures contains comprehensive reforms addressing equity, criminal justice, public health, and public safety. This new industry is expected to bring hundreds of new, good-paying jobs to Connecticut as businesses continue to open and expand, including work in production and jobs directly handling cannabis products, as well as industry support such as technical jobs, administrative and information technology positions, and security, the governor touted.

Lamont also said the law takes a comprehensive approach to promoting social equity, focused on the neighborhoods most impacted by the war on drugs. It provides for expungement of past cannabis-related crimes and reserves half of all cannabis business licenses for people from impacted neighborhoods.

In addition, more than half of the revenue from cannabis sales will be dedicated to a new fund that will be invested in those neighborhoods.

While a zoning prohibition on such businesses likely ensures there will not be any opening in Newtown, it does not preclude those legally possessing up to the legal limit from traveling in or through town. The only thing those individuals need to heed is the chorus of informed voices imploring them not to operate vehicles while under the influence of the THC that is infused or a natural occurring element of those legal cannabis products.

We stand with those many public safety-minded and public health experts in strongly urging folks with a penchant to party on, to keep off our roadways. Either select a designated non-consuming driver to pilot you around, or reserve your use of legal cannabis for when you are at home or somewhere you can do so safely and without having to get behind the wheel.

For those who do, be advised that Newtown’s Police Department not only has two certified Drug Recognition Experts, or DRE certified members, who are well-equipped to detect and charge THC impaired operators, but also one of those law enforcement professionals — Sgt Matthew Wood — actually trains DRE officers for numerous other agencies. You do not want to be driving stoned and have to interact with Sgt Wood, our other DRE, Officer Paula Wickman, or any of our local police for that matter.

That said, we believe we share the sentiment of the entire Newtown police force, as well as most if not all state law enforcement and emergency responders when we say cannabis should not be consumed before or during operation of a motor vehicle. Consumers wishing to review and understand the laws related to public consumption may review relevant materials at ct.gov/cannabis and beintheknowct.org.

To those who choose to partake now that cannabis products are legal for adults to possess and use — we do not want to be writing about your arrest for impaired driving in our police blotter. While it is totally cool and now perfectly legal to enjoy the buzz, please do so in a safe and stationary location, not while operating on our Newtown and Connecticut roadways.