The pro-marijuana lobby is ecstatic that 10 states (Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Vermont, California, and Oregon, plus Wash D.C.) have legalized recreational marijuana, with more expected in the future. Should the rest of us be as ecstatic as the “potheads” and others who have supported this legislation are? By the way, did you notice that most all the states that have legalized it are “blue states” (run by Democrats)?
The P.C. Police (Politically Correct) have already pronounced that if you are against the legalization of “recreational” marijuana (a/k/a pot, weed, ganga, grass, Mary Jane, reefer, hash etc.), you are some sort of a right-wing, neanderthal, bible-toting, Conservative Republican who wants to impose his/her morality on others. Is that a fair description of those who oppose “recreational” marijuana legalization?
The question should be--should we legalize another mind-altering drug along with alcohol? According to the “pot lobby”, the answer is a resounding “YES”, and the sooner the better. Their argument is that “pot” is not harmful to the body and mind, and people who think differently don't know what they are talking about.
Is marijuana a benign drug?
Well, let's look at the effects of “pot” on the body and mind of its users as determined by medical experts , not “pot” junkies.
Here are some of the effects of “pot” on the body and mind by the medical profession:
It causes distorted perception and impairs memory and inability to learn
It promotes anxiety attacks and feelings of paranoia
It impairs muscle coordination and judgment
It increases the susceptibility of infection
It causes burning and stinging of the mouth and throat
It increases the heart rate and could cause a jump in blood pressure
It causes impairment of driving skills
It has the potential to promote cancer of the lungs and other parts of the respiratory tract because of the various carcinogens present in it
It creates difficulty in thinking and problem solving
Taking all of the above factors into consideration, how can anyone claim that marijuana is a benign drug?
Yes, I know that people will get their marijuana highs whether it is legalized or not, but why should we encourage its use by legalizing it? It has also been shown that smoking marijuana is a “gateway” drug for more powerful mind-altering drugs like heroin, crack, cocaine, Ecstasy, opioids and other prescription drugs. In fact, today's marijuana is much more potent than what it was 20 or 30 years ago (5 times more potent), therefore, the unintended negative consequences of indulging in using marijuana, are greater today than in the past. In the words of the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, “We are defining deviancy down”. We're not talking about “medical marijuana” we're talking about “recreational marijuana”.
Already, the “unintended consequences” of these laws are having a detrimental effect on the living conditions of those states. Increased DUIs, and minors gaining access to “pot” in increasing numbers, have been reported and the trend is that it will get much, much worse.
To those who favor legalizing marijuana, be careful what you wish for, you might regret the consequences that legalization will bring to your communities and to yourselves.
Conservative commentary by, (a non-user of marijuana),
Chuck Lehmann
The pro-marijuana lobby is ecstatic that 10 states (Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Vermont, California, and Oregon, plus Wash D.C.) have legalized recreational marijuana, with more expected in the future. Should the rest of us be as ecstatic as the “potheads” and others who have supported this legislation are? By the way, did you notice that most all the states that have legalized it are “blue states” (run by Democrats)?
