Is good governance based on faith? That is, should those in city governance; city council members, mayor, and city employees follow moral teaching in decision making? Should city council members when proposing or adopting ordinances consider the moral consequences, or the morality of the subject of the ordinance? In other words is it morally acceptable to adopt an ordinance that creates evil, but a good comes from it?
The city of Menominee government crafted and adopted an ordinance to allow marijuana stores to set up shop in the city so that good would come of it in the form of more money for good use in the city. Initially two stores would be allowed, but even before they opened the council created a new ordinance to permit an unlimited number of marijuana stores to infiltrate the city. Realizing the evil marijuana would bring to the city sufficient numbers of residents signed a petition to bring the ordinance authorizing unlimited marijuana stores in the city to a referendum vote. In a closed door meeting certain members of the city council created a replacement ordinance with a trivial $15,000 appropriation to make it referendum proof based on city bylaws. Then in a city council meeting they repealed the ordinance that was subject to a referendum vote and adopted the replacement ordinance that opened the door to an unlimited number or marijuana stores.
However, ONE MAY NOT DO EVIL THAT GOOD MAY COME OF IT! That is Catholic teaching. I think may be that of most Christian denominations.
So what about allowing the establishment of marijuana stores. The second part, good may come of it, is not open to question. Getting more money into the city budget is good. What about the first part, allowing marijuana stores in the city. Is marijuana evil, more particularly recreational marijuana as the ordinance allows? Yes. The intent of use of recreational marijuana is to get "high". Getting high diminishes the use of reason. God has given us the gift of reason to guide and direct our actions toward what is truly good for us and for others. Therefore intentionally getting high is sin, and those who promote the availability of marijuana are guilty of sin.
Romans 3:8, its meaning is that people who do evil to achieve a good result are rightly condemned. Genesis 4:9 & Matthew 18:6, highlights responsibility and accountability towards others.
In addition to diminished use of reason, the evil of freely available recreational marijuana, from the U.S.SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration):
*Brain health: Marijuana can cause permanent IQ loss of as much as 8 points when people stat using it at a young age. These IQ points do not come back, even after quiting marijuana.
*Mental health: Studies link marijuana use to depression, anxiety, suicide planning and psychotic episodes.
*Daily Life: Using marijuana can affect performance and how well people do in life. Research shows that people who use marijuana are more likely to have relationship problems, worse educational outcomes, lower career achievement and reduced life satisfaction.
Good governance is based on faith, and decision making based on moral values. The Menominee City Council has failed the residents of Menominee by legalizing sale of recreational marijuana in the city.
The well-being of the city and residents is diminshed. Driving, walking, and bicycling along Tenth Street and part of Tenth Avenue entails dealing with increased traffic and eyesores of the marijuana purveyors. Youth will get the idea using marijuana is normal and it finds its way in schools. Users spend money on marijuana, lose employment, and frequent food pantries struggling due to increased use of their resources. Marijuana stores have displaced well thought of restaurants and businesses.