LETTER: 'Where Did The Money Come From On Campaign For Or Against Rec. Marijuana?'

MILFORD, MA—The following was submitted by Beverly Swymer. Want to get in on the conversation? Email charlene.arsenault@patch.com.

Campaign finance reports for both sides of the September 19th referendum are available through the Town Clerk’s Office. Where did the money for each side of the non-medical/recreational marijuana issue come from and how was it spent?

A breakdown for Citizens for Fairness or the ‘NO’ side is interesting, though not at all surprising. Only two Milford residents donated to the cause. Green Partners Management donated over $36,000. All that is available online for this Woburn based LLC is that the CEO of Sage in Milford is the Manager. In-kind donations were also noted. These donations, though non-monetary were significant. The Marijuana Policy Project provided ‘staff and IT’ services, a gentleman from Beverly, MA took out a full-page Milford Daily News ad for $2,600 in an effort to sway Milford voters. Sage Naturals donated the labor costs of paying their workers over $12,000 to hold signs.

On the other side, were Milford residents dedicated to preserving the health, safety and integrity of a family community. There was no ‘outside’ influence. Money came from Milford families. Local residents held signs throughout the summer and in the rain on September 19th, not because they were paid to, but because they cared. They VOLUNTEERED their time for a cause they believed in.

Milford voters decided on September 19th, once and for all that they did not want non-medical/ recreational marijuana establishments in town. Their votes could NOT be bought. Town Meeting must now honor the will of the voters by supporting Article 14.

Beverly Swymer

Milford