I have a deep gratitude for being a part of the landscape here in our precious and beautiful Oxford Hills. I believe there is a need to come together with understanding, honesty and focus to heal our community as a whole.

There are issues of domestic violence, alcoholism, narcotic and prescription drug abuse, and poverty within our community. We must take action on addressing these issues for the safety of our children, our homes, our world.

Limited resources should be directed toward the dangerous and debilitating realities that destroy families and potential in our community; not toward harmless ones.

We are all affected by addiction, most often of legal substances that are proven to destroy lives and foster violence. It is my opinion that marijuana is not at the heart of any sort of destruction. The initiative in upcoming town meetings is about making marijuana a low priority issue in regards to far greater problems we face. This issue is not about legalizing marijuana, it is about changing enforcement priorities.

Every single effort can go toward peace: positivity, health, safety, love and freedom that we all deserve. It could come through illuminating the truth, embracing change, working together with open hearts and minds with honest communication and commitment to community.

We can heal and restore balance with the courage to stand up, and with the courage to connect.

Erica Carson, West Paris