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10/30/2019COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – Minutes of Meeting Wednesday, October 30, 2019 The Village Board met as a Committee of the Whole in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30. In attendance were: PRESENT: Village Board Staff Harriet Rosenthal, Mayor Kent Street, Village Manager William Seiden, Trustee Andrew Lichterman, Asst. Village Manager Daniel Shapiro, Trustee David Fitzgerald, Management Analyst Barbara Struthers, Trustee John Sliozis, Police Chief Absent Trustees Benton, Jester, and Oppenheim Mayor Rosenthal thanked the constituents for requesting the meeting. She noted that calling a special meeting is uncommon in the Village. She noted that each presenter will receive 30 minutes for a presentation including question and answer. Public Comment None Presentation Dr. Aaron Weiner thanked the Mayor and Board for the opportunity to speak. He stated that he is on the front lines treating people with addictions. He noted that he sees changes happening in the way people think of marijuana. He believes there is a changing landscape of how we look at drugs in the country. He believes it is seen as a natural alternative when it is not. He noted that THC levels are very high in some products. He noted that increasingly people see marijuana as less threatening than other addictive drugs. He outlined what marijuana is and how it works in the body and different ways to use it. He believes cakes and brownies are attractive to children. He noted that marijuana is stronger than it used to be. He stated marijuana is addictive. Dr. Weiner believes that although recreational cannabis will be legal, greater exposure and access to the public will increase usage and normalization by the youth. Trustee Shapiro inquired about some of the statistics. Dr. Weiner noted that motor impairment can last longer. He noted that ER visits went up in Colorado after legalization. He noted that environment plays into addiction and availability in the environment can increase that chance. He noted that marijuana can change and alter the brains of people, and especially children. He discussed the names of the products being sold and believes they are being targeted to children. He cited the lack of training at medical dispensaries. C.O.W; October 30, 2019 He concluded that marijuana is addictive. He believes any intoxicating substance use is bad and access should not be expanded. He discussed the groups that are against the State legislation. He went through old ads promoting use of smoking. He asked the Mayor and Board to think of the impact of permitting a dispensary going forward on the community and its future, when the impact is unknown. Dr. Jay Joshi thanked the Village Board for inviting him. He noted that he does not live or work in Deerfield and is here simply to help educate and share his point of view. He has presented more than 700 times nationally. He outlined his education and work history. He discussed addiction and physicians that support the pharmaceutical companies despite specific incidents of over prescribing incorrect and additive drugs to patients. He discussed the opiate epidemic and the role some physicians and pharmaceutical companies played. He discussed the negative impact of having access to marijuana that is sold on the black market and not regulated. He discussed phases of marijuana going from being sold on the street to medical sales, to CBD oil. He noted that medical cannabis can improve outcomes for patients. He noted that he is not for recreational sales of marijuana but that people have access to the drug and they will obtain it one way or the other and its better to have government oversight and control over the substance. The best thing to do now is to keep the community safe through local control and regulations. He would rather have safer marijuana from a dispensary than from the black market. He noted that the tax revenues from it could benefit the community. He believes having control is the best way to keep people safe and using the revenue to improve public safety and education. He would rather have safe products than products from the street. Mayor Rosenthal thanked Dr. Weiner and Dr. Joshi for their presentations. Adjournment Trustee Struthers made a motion to adjourn. Trustee Shapiro seconded the motion. It passed on a voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:04 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, David Fitzgerald-Sullivan Management Analyst