After years of debate, the State of Georgia has a medical marijuana policy that works. Those residents afflicted with a wide number of debilitating medical conditions including hospice care can now legally obtain medically prescribed cannabis oil to relieve suffering. While there is still debate about the overall effects of this product, there is no doubt that under medical supervision benefits are being realized for those unfortunate victims of various medical maladies.
At the same time, there are various cities in the state that have passed measures in an effort to decriminalize the possession of street level marijuana. One of the reasons cited by these various government bodies is that the current legal environment is adversely affecting the African-American population in terms of the conviction percentage during the law enforcement phase of anti-drug policies. The legalization of marijuana will not help this disparity in racial arrests. Looking at the State of Colorado (which legalized in 2012) according to the Colorado Department of Public Safety, arrests in Colorado of black and Latino youth for marijuana possession have increased 58% and 29% respectively after legalization.
The movement and arguments for recreational marijuana are using a multi-prong approach in trying to push for this reckless agenda. They cite that if marijuana is legalized it would be a tax revenue boon for State and Local Georgia governments and also be economically positive creating businesses and jobs for the region. Looking again at Colorado, the tax boost from legalized marijuana has been a paltry 1.18% in tax year 2016 while the cost of addiction recovery, law enforcement, healthcare treatment, homelessness and public awareness costs are unknown yet substantial. In one hospital alone, Children’s Hospital Colorado, located in Aurora have seen their admissions for child marijuana poisoning cases double post legalization.
While some of the facts that pro-legalization movement members say may be true, I argue that the true cost of outright recreational marijuana will be overall negative for Georgians when you look at the total picture. I say this after carefully observing the current recreational marijuana operations within the State of Colorado.
Yes, the legalization of pot in Colorado has led to some positive economic stimulus and increased tax revenues. However, since inception of the legal recreational marijuana project in Colorado, there have been several devastating results. Obviously unintended, the relaxation of marijuana laws in Colorado has led to an outright explosion of use among 12-17 years olds within the state per the National Survey on Drug Use and Health during 2013-2014 placing Colorado number one in the national category. Marijuana use among minors has continued to rise every year since legalization according a recent report entitled “The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact, Vol 4” issued by the Rocky Mountain High Density Drug Trafficking Area. This agency is operating at the Federal Level charged with documenting both legal and illegal marijuana drug activity in the Colorado area. In the agencies’ 2015 report they include a definitive report by Dr. Muiris Houston in Lancet Psychiatry that discovered that young users of marijuana (under 17) are 60% more likely to drop out of high school or college. More alarming, this same demographic is 7 times more likely to commit suicide and 8 times more likely to move on to other drugs.
Another disturbing trend in Colorado is the increasing incidents of marijuana poisoning among infants who unfortunately stumble upon their caretaker’s marijuana edibles (these edibles have the appearance of candy). There has also been an increase in emergency room visits by teenagers and adults alike who have experienced adverse reactions to legal and street marijuana abuse. This year Dr. Brad Roberts of Pueblo, Colorado published an editorial article entitled: “Dangers of Marijuana Experienced Firsthand”. In this piece he laments for the old Colorado he once knew which was quaint and peaceful. As a practicing Doctor he expressed his alarm on the increased traffic to Colorado emergency room from legalized marijuana abuse: “multiple different types of patients coming into the Emergency Department…problems such as marijuana-induced psychosis, dependence, burn injuries, homelessness and self-medication with marijuana to treat medical problems instead of seeking appropriate medical care”.
There is also the problem of marijuana in Colorado becoming a disruptive force in the lives of many residents there who get addicted and often use public resource dollars to support their habits. We are seeing a growing homelessness problem in Colorado as addicted residents there are spending public assistance dollars on marijuana instead of paying their rent for buying food for their children. It has created a negative vicious spiral of drug dependence and in fact recreational pot is acting as a gateway drug to other dangerous illegal substances such as Meth, Heroin and Opioid abuse. After interviewing a Police Officer recently I discovered that recreational marijuana is often used in conjunction with other illegal chemicals which provide a dangerous high. This intoxication often comes at a high price with death often the result if the chemical used was part of a bad batch.
There is also now in Colorado a raging, growing marijuana black market which protagonists of recreational pot there said would go away with legalization. It has not. This has led to an increase in crime, petty theft and outright violence as gangs fight for distribution rights of their illicit and untaxed illegal product.
Those who argue for the State of Georgia to allow the recreational use of marijuana would be well served by looking at the current state of affairs in Colorado. Looking at the big picture, I argue that the true costs and public dangers are too great. I urge all Georgians to realize the arguments for legalization of marijuana are often utilized by groups who stand to gain economically with the passage of such a measure. The potential of youth exposure to this gateway drug is not worth the risk. Our future is our children. We must consider how we can protect them from exposure to marijuana. It is time to reflect on the true cost of legalization. I would urge Georgians to “Just Say No”!
(Hunter Lund)
Sources:
1. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2829054-2016-SB13-283-Rpt-Colorado-Early-Findings-in.html (Colorado Department of Public Safety)
2. https://www.sheriffs.org/sites/default/files/2016%20FINAL%20Legalization%20of%20Marijuana%20in%20Colorado%20The%20Impact.pdf (The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact, Vol 4” )
3. http://www.acepnow.com/article/dangers-marijuana-experienced-firsthand/ (Dr. Brad Roberts “Dangers of Marijuana Experience Firsthand)
4. http://www.rmhidta.org/html/2015%20final%20legalization%20of%20marijuana%20in%20colorado%20the%20impact.pdf (Dr. Houston report from Lancet)
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