Thumbs up to the Sanford Town Council’s decision to continue its moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries. These new businesses will be highly controversial and very different from others in the region, so establishing one in town will take careful consideration.

The council is wise to hold off on quick decisions, leaving time to craft proper zoning restrictions and get public input before letting any dispensary proposals get too far along.

Thumbs down to Waterboro’s rejection of the “Tag a Bag” proposal, which is the most fair and common sense waste disposal idea we’ve heard in a long time. The program would have encouraged recycling without punishing those who already do it, by providing 52 free trash bag tags each year. Voters should have embraced this compromise, but since they did not they will undoubtedly see their taxes go up for waste disposal costs and see more recyclable materials wasted at the dump.

Thumbs up to all the election wardens, volunteers and town clerks who managed the primary elections and other voting on Tuesday, June 8. Voting days are always hectic, from getting polling places set up and handing out the right ballots to counting and recounting of ballots and getting the results out. All of those who make the process go smoothly for the average voter, who just pops in and out to cast their ballot, should be applauded.

Thumbs up and congratulations to all of the Class of 2010 graduates who marked the end of their high school careers in recent weeks. All of the grads should be proud of their accomplishment and aspire to great things, whether it be through continued schoolwork or joining the workforce or military. Congrats also to all of our area college graduates. Remember, wherever you go, to carry your community pride with you and remember your roots.

Thumbs up to the York County Commissioners’ decision to restrict smoking to the lower parking lot at the York County Courthouse in Alfred. When smokers congregate, they generally leave a pile of cigarette butts behind, which either make building entrances unsightly or have to be cleaned up by a groundskeeper ”“ using taxpayer money. If smokers can’t learn to use the butt receptacles, they should certainly not be allowed to litter the entrances. Many legal activities are restricted to certain buildings or areas ”“ including nudity, adult alcohol consumption and even skateboarding ”“ so commissioners should not have qualms about disallowing smoking from certain parts of the courthouse property. The problem will be enforcement of this new provision, since no one is apparently heeding the existing restriction on smoking near the building.

— Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you would like to respond, please write the Reader’s Forum via e-mail at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford or Sanford offices.