Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell focused part of her State of the County address this month on New York's consideration of the legalization of recreational marijuana.  She believes relying on marijuana to solve the state’s fiscal issues is financially unsound and socially irresponsible. 

Odell says Colorado's predicted revenue windfall was short of what was promised and that the cost to mitigate the effects of legalization outpaced tax revenue taken in.  Odell said the  number of fatal car accidents in Colorado increased by 40 percent from 2013 to 2015.  And drivers in fatal accidents testing positive for pot rose by 145 percent during that time. 

Odell reported that in Putnam County, opioid deaths dropped from 24 in 2017 to 18 last year.  There have been 71 deaths from overdoses in the past four years. Odell noted that by comparison there were only six deaths from vehicle accidents in 2018 and a total of 21 deaths over the past four years in Putnam County from vehicle accidents. 

She says there were fewer deaths from opioid overdoses last year, in part because of the distribution of 676 Narcan kits, which help reverse the effects of opioids when given to someone who is suffering from an overdose. Emergency and law enforcement personnel are trained in Narcan administration as well as librarians, school officials and many community members as well as family members and friends of many people who have a known addiction. 

Putnam County is involved in a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors.