In the past fifty years of research on the subject of medical use of cannabis, a massive trove of scientific evidence has been compiled – evidence that shows in no uncertain terms that cannabis has an undeniable ability to genuinely help some patients dealing with certain medical ailments. But the evidence has not shown that marijuana should be legal for recreational use.
Ailments treated with cannabis can range from insomnia to chronic pain and from glaucoma to migraine headaches. In clinical trials as well as in mountains of anecdotal reports, we find case after case of medical cannabis being used to honestly alleviate suffering in thousands upon thousands of individuals who might not otherwise be able to find relief from their symptoms.
So, it’s safe to say that through study and trial, humanity has unearthed a revolutionary new way to treat disease with a natural, abundant herb that can be easily cultivated and even more easily administered.
But wait…in the wake of the success we’ve seen with medical cannabis, we are hearing a refrain echoing from all corners of our country now. What started out as a pipe dream (no pun intended) in the 60’s has metastasized into a battle cry. People are asking – nay, they are demanding – that cannabis be made legally available to everyone of drinking age.
“Let’s give cannabis to everyone,” they’re suggesting, “This herb deserves to be available for chemo patients as well as armchair psychonauts and curious college students. Why deprive them of such a wonderful substance?” Entrepreneurs and cannabis industry opportunists are lining up in droves pressuring lawmakers for immediate legislation allowing for the unbridled production and distribution of an incredibly powerful drug about which we are still learning.
Wait…what?
No.
Wrong. Bad idea.
Cannabis Is a Drug
While it is true that cannabis has clear and present benefits for medical patients, legalization of cannabis for recreational use is a horrible idea, and we can begin our dive into why by starting with the National Institute of Health, which has this to say in the conclusion of a 2017 article on medical cannabis:
Ultimately, as the medicinal cannabis landscape continues to evolve, hospitals, acute care facilities, clinics, hospices, and long-term care centers need to […] explore the feasibility of permitting patient access to this treatment.
The NIH itself is saying that the medical community needs to be very careful about exactly how and why cannabis is produced and provided for medical patients. Why? Because tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – one of the many bio-active compounds in cannabis – is a powerful chemical that needs to be treated with extreme caution.
Who in their right mind would advocate for opening the gates to such a powerful drug, to anyone with a driver’s license?
…which brings us to our next reason why legalization is a terrible idea:
Driving High
It’s no secret that alcohol-impaired driving kills people. The CDC reports that every day, 28 people die in motor vehicle accidents involving alcohol. So, if the case could be made that use of cannabis impairs driving, it would also stand to reason that legalization of cannabis would compound the already massive problem of impaired driving.
Let’s see what the studies show. After just a cursory look at the data, the case against cannabis consumption before operating a motor vehicle is crystal clear.
Study #1: High-potency marijuana impairs motor function and inhibitory motor control
Study #2: Aspects of driving performance affected by cannabis use include coordination, tracking, perception, vigilance and performance in both driving simulators and on the road.
Study #3: Probably the most compelling of the ones cited here – Acute cannabis consumption is associated with an increased risk of a motor vehicle crash, especially for fatal collisions.
This point can now be considered proven: use of cannabis impairs driving ability. By legalizing cannabis for use by anyone who can already purchase alcohol, the state would be making a dire decision to create an even more dangerous driving environment for motorists.
Not only could someone get a little buzzed on a few beers before getting behind the wheel (and conceivably still be below the legal limit for BAC while driving); they could also smoke a little high-grade weed, as well.
The combination of the two wouldn’t be enough to fail them in a blood test for alcohol, but it could certainly result in a failed field sobriety test. It’s not worth giving everyday people another substance to use to enjoy their time off if we have to worry our kids, neighbors, brothers, sisters and friends navigating more treacherous roads every day of their lives.
No.
Access to Minors
As a final point in the case to be made against cannabis legalization, there is the potential of bringing this incredibly powerful plant into the hands of our children. Whether or not marijuana can be said to be a ‘gateway drug’ isn’t even a contributing factor in this discussion, because marijuana is inherently dangerous for developing brains. So, even if a teen smokes weed and that’s all they do – not turning to harder drugs even though they may be available – they’re still inhibiting the development of their grey matter.
It’s clear that legalization would make weed far more available to minors than it is today. Consider the current distribution points for cannabis in a state like Georgia, where it is still considered illegal to possess or consume cannabis without a medical prescription. Only licensed medical dispensaries can distribute pot. This limits the supply into the illegal market, which is the only place a minor can access it.
Add recreational dispensaries, and what happens to the ubiquity of pot is that it goes through the roof. Now, all a minor needs is access to an adult who is either nefarious enough or careless enough to provide weed to kids. This would ultimately result in an unrelenting tide of newly formed dependencies and addictions that could have been otherwise avoided by limiting the use of cannabis to qualified medical patients who can be vetted and tracked.
Conclusion
The compounds in THC are incredibly powerful, psychoactive substances that need to be cautiously used for medical purposes only.
Legalization of cannabis would add millions of stoned drivers to our roadways, imperiling sober drivers everywhere.
Minors would have almost no barriers to accessing weed, invariably resulting in stunted development for anyone under the age of 18.
Therefore, legalization of cannabis is not smart for public health, social welfare or any other gradient of human well-being.
Please don’t take anything you read here as medical or legal advice. If you need medical or legal advice, consult a doctor or lawyer. The articles and content that appear on this website have been written by different people and do not necessarily reflect the views of our organization.