Legalization of Cannabis

"Of course I know how to roll a joint."―Martha Stewart

Legalize Cannabis With Care

There are 88,000 deaths per year associated with alcohol consumption, 440,000 deaths per year associated with cigarette smoking. The numbers for death and cannabis use aren't even close. In 1970, the federal government classified marijuana as dangerous and with a high potential for addiction, like LSD and heroin. Really? According to recent studies, the potential for addiction is only 9% of people who regularly use this drug. Comparing marijuana abuse to heroin is like comparing Mr. Rogers to Hitler. 

There are many health benefits associated with using marijuana, especially medical marijuana, from increasing appetites for Alzheimer patients and reducing their anxiety levels, to assisting some soldiers with their combat PTSD symptoms. Of course, these are benefits that are studied in adults. The research on marijuana usage in adolescents shows negative effects in neuron processing due to their developing brains until age 25. As with alcohol, legalization of marijuana should have an age attached to it, at least until after the age of 21. 

With opioid addiction and the economic devastation it creates in this country, I believe marijuana is the least of our societal problems. Most of us have read about the tax revenue that is pouring into Washington, California and Colorado, states that have legalized medical marijuana. Tax revenues that could be better spent on rehabilitation for heroin, alcohol and cocaine addicts. The criminal element of marijuana is attributed mostly to illegal distribution so legalizing marijuana would financially reduce the impact in our prison systems.

To this day, I still do not know one person who ever stole money from their parents or broke into a neighbors house to steal items for their marijuana habit. On the flip side, I have seen so many families (including my own) that have had deep emotional and financial scars that have been created by alcohol and substance abuse. 

http://rachels64.blogspot.com/

sources:
Results of Marijuana
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/which-is-worse-booze-or-pot-a-doctor-weighs-in/
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/legal-pot/no-high-risk-marijuana-may-be-less-harmful-alcohol-tobacco-n312876