As I watch grow house after grow house, both large and small, spring up in every vacant commercial property in this area (and likely the state), it stands out to me that Maine lawmakers are too antiquated in mind, spirit and representation to acknowledge an opportunity.

I watch as large construction companies, large businesses and everyday Joes raking in tens of thousands of dollars in marijuana with high-tech growth, and the only state not making money is Maine.

Lawmakers lost the war — the people legalized it. Massachusetts, Vermont, Canada; soon, New York, New Hampshire and Rhode Island — all legal or soon to be. That will cut prices and take away tax revenue at some point. Colorado, California and Washington state have overflowing coffers from citizen-initiative marijuana taxes, yet Maine kicks the can down the road at the behest of stubborn heads who delay the voters’ will for no reason.

Lawmakers can simply repeat what the other states did or change on the fly, but they should at least recognize the free cash the citizens have voted for.

Weed is here. People can use it or not, but it’s foolish for every mundane thing in the state to be taxed to death, yet lawmakers allow a million-dollar cash cow to jump the fence. Good grief, the state needs the money for roads and schools.

Are lawmakers really that out of touch with reality or did they just not exhale yet?

Mike Farrell, Auburn