Today's marijuana is not the harmless weed popularized in Cheech and Chong movies from the 1970s.
Victoria DaltonRecently, proponents of legalizing marijuana in New Jersey held a public hearing in Trenton. Currently, there are four states that have legalized marijuana and eleven states that have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Proponents argue that legalization will allow police to focus on more serious crimes and allowing retail businesses to sell it will generate tax revenue and eliminate the black market of drug dealers. Many view marijuana as a relatively harmless drug especially when compared with alcohol.
While certain aspects of our marijuana laws should be reviewed, legalization is a drastic step that will have dramatic consequences on the safety of our communities as well as our public health. Before deciding where you stand on legalization, please consider the following.
Impact on Community Safety
In 2010, medical marijuana was legalized in Colorado. In 2012, it legalized marijuana and in 2014 retail businesses began selling it to anyone 21 years or older. The consequences? In 2014, there was a 32 percent increase in marijuana related traffic deaths and since 2010 the number has increased by 92 percent.
Meanwhile, the black market is alive and well in Colorado. It has become the destination of choice for out of state residents to buy marijuana and resell it in their home state. Since legal marijuana has a 30 percent tax associated with it, users are still using the black market to buy their marijuana since it is less expensive.
According to Kevin Merill, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officer in charge in Denver, "more and more criminals are moving to Colorado to exploit our drug laws, sell marijuana through the U.S. and line their pockets with drug money."
The Colorado experience is certainly troubling and has not been the panacea purported by legalization advocates.
Impact on Public Health
Today's marijuana is not the harmless weed popularized in Cheech and Chong movies from the 1970s. THC, the active ingredient in marijuana has increased from approximately .40 percent in the 1970s to 12 percent today. This powerful and genetically engineered drug has been shown to cause harmful effects on the brain including loss in memory, learning, attention and reaction time.
As expected, legalization in Colorado has resulted in an increase in use among adolescents. There has been a 32 percent increase in usage for teens between 12-17 years of age from 2009 to 2014. A 40 percent increase in drug related suspensions and expulsions from 2008/2009 school year to 2013/2014.
In 2014, there was a 29 percent increase in the number of marijuana related emergency room visits in Colorado in just one year. Importantly, the medical experts are all in agreement. The American Medical Association as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics both opposes the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Today, we know many families are dealing with the terrible problem of opiate addiction from pills as well as heroin. While certainly not every marijuana user will become a heroin addict, many heroin addicts did start abusing marijuana before moving on to other drugs. Legalization of marijuana sends the wrong message and will only complicate our other drug problems, which have been described as an epidemic.
Follow the Money
While legalization advocates will say this is a "grass" roots effort, massive special interest groups and lobbies that will profit from legalization fund this movement. These groups seek to package marijuana in cookies, candies, sodas and brownies that are especially attractive to children. Their goal is to target the young similar to the marketing strategy of tobacco companies years ago.
Till next time, God bless, keep smiling, when Your Legal Corner, will discuss "Leaving your child alone in the car and child abuse."
Victoria M. Dalton is an attorney with the law offices of Hoffman DiMuzio. Send questions, or comments to Victoria at vdalton@hoffmandimuzio.com. Or call 856-845-8243. Please note that Your Legal Corner was created to provide educational articles about the law and is not legal advice.