Dear Readers,

Now that the primary season is over, it won't be long until we are flooded with annoying robocalls, bales of junk mail, called campaign literature, and of course, gaggles of TV commercials praising this and attacking that.

Candidates will talk about fighting for us, protecting us, saving our money, how much they love their families, bragging about being Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts and good students. They will all most likely mention their undying support for the Red Sox and how they hate sin, waste, fraud and abuse.

But few will talk about a topic that has become a giant steamroller heading for Augusta. I am speaking about the move to legalize recreational marijuana.

Maine is one of 16 states that permits marijuana to be used for medical purposes. Twelve more are considering it. Two states, Colorado and Washington, have legalized recreational pot.

But freedom to smoke is not what is driving the campaign to legalize weed. It is money — a whole new tax revenue stream.

Forbes magazine says Colorado tax revenue projections expect to receive $40 million in new tax dollars this year. The Huffington Post estimates Washington state will see $1.9 billion over the next five year period. This is serious money.

While marijuana advocates talk about freedom, legislators and lobbyists have stars in their eyes. They are eyeballing a huge new revenue stream that is just waiting to fund their pet projects.

For years, state and local governments have cut and slashed budgets. Schools and local governments complain about state revenue sharing cuts. Town officials complain of school costs. Local taxpayers wonder why their local taxes continue to raise. They see the new revenue stream as a real opportunity.

How will these new revenues be allocated? Will legislators and governors retire old pension debts and pay off bonds? Will they fix roads and bridges, fund police and fire departments, conservation causes, alternative energy projects, and schools? How about a rainy day fund? How about fixing the Southport bridge?

In addition to the anticipated tax money, what about weed regulation and quality control, not to mention traffic safety concerns?

We now have candidates for state and local offices seeking our votes. It is now time to ask them and their party leaders about their views on the Augusta steamroller. Ask them if they are for, or against it. Then ask them why.

If they are for it, ask them about how it will be taxed and regulated and how these regulations will be enforced. Ask them about the new tax revenue stream, and where it might be spent.

For starters, Eliot Cutler, the independent candidate for governor, will be at the Southport Town Hall on June 17 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for a meet and greet.

It would be a good time to ask him just where he stands on legal pot and why.