Letter from Maureen Dill

Cannabis Tax Revenue Crossroads Solution

To borrow a headline from a recent news report, we here in rural Otsego County are indeed “at the crossroads,” with a growing shortfall in emergency medical services across our county and the reported decline in volunteer EMS workers. New York State itself is at the crossroads and state government must be urged to seize the opportunity to apply cannabis tax revenues where they are most needed, as has been done in other states where recreational cannabis is now legal.

In states across our nation, cannabis tax revenues have reached a high of more than $3 billion in one year. In many states these tax windfalls are being applied to fire districts, public safety, health professions, police and public service, and veterans’ programs, in addition to the disbursement of cannabis sales tax revenues to county, city, and town governments.

We urge Otsego County residents to support the initiative to bring about the application of cannabis tax revenues where it is most needed: rural emergency medical services. Please contact your county representative and County Board Chair David Bliss, urging them to petition the state for such revenues. Also, please write state Assemblyman Angelino, state Senator Oberacker, Congressman Molinaro, and U.S. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand asking for same. It will take many voices raised in unison to bring about this beneficial application of cannabis tax revenues.

Maureen Dill
Morris