Increased DUI's, hospitalizations, and minors gaining access to “pot” in increasing numbers, have been reported and the trend is that it will get much, much worse.
The pro-marijuana lobby is ecstatic that 19 states (Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Washington, Vermont, Rhode Island, Virginia, California, Oregon, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Illinois, Montana, 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? By the way, did you notice that most of the states that have legalized it are “blue states” (run by Democrats)? Even President Biden has come out in favor of its legalization.
Marijuana use can have negative and long-term effects
The P.C. (Politically Correct) Police have already pronounced that if you are against the legalization of “recreational” marijuana (a/k/a pot, weed, ganga, grass, Mary Jane, reefer, etc.), you are some sort of a right-wing, neanderthal, bible-toting, Conservative Republican nut-job, 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” lovers.
Here are some of the effects of “pot” on the body and mind as put forward by the medical profession.
Marijuana use can have negative and long-term effects (US Department of Health and Human Services) :
Brain health: Marijuana can cause permanent IQ loss of as much as 8 points when people start using it at a young age. These IQ points do not come back, even after quitting marijuana.
Mental health: Studies link marijuana use to depression, anxiety, suicide planning, and psychotic episodes. It is not known, however, if marijuana use is the cause of these conditions.
Athletic Performance: Research shows that marijuana affects timing, movement, and coordination, which can harm athletic performance.
Driving: People who drive under the influence of marijuana can experience dangerous effects: slower reactions, lane weaving, decreased coordination, and difficulty reacting to signals and sounds on the road.
Baby’s health and development: Marijuana use during pregnancy may cause fetal growth restriction, premature birth, stillbirth, and problems with brain development, resulting in hyperactivity and poor cognitive function. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other chemicals from marijuana can also be passed from a mother to her baby through breast milk, further impacting a child’s healthy development.
Daily life: Using marijuana can affect performance and how well people do in life. Research shows that people who use marijuana are more likely to have relationship problems, worse educational outcomes, lower career achievement, and reduced life satisfaction.
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“We are defining deviancy down”
Taking all of the above factors into consideration, how can anyone claim that marijuana is a benign drug? It has been found that the potency of the marijuana of today has risen from 4% to 12% in just the past 20 years. In fact, 21 year old Robert Crimo III, the killer in Highland Park, was an habitual smoker of cannabis, a habit he apparently shared with other young mass murderers, including Uvalde, Dayton, Parkland, Newton and Aurora. Is there some correlation with that kind of behavior and the use of recreational marijuana?
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, Fentanyl, and other prescription drugs. In fact, since today's marijuana is so much more potent than what it was 20 years ago, therefore, the unintended negative consequences of indulging in using recreational marijuana, is 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” for the sole purpose of getting high.
Already, the “unintended consequences” of these laws are having a detrimental effect on the living conditions in those states. Increased DUI's, hospitalizations, 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.
