November is quickly coming upon the calendar’s horizon and if one lives in Michigan they won’t only be voting on those candidates who desire to legislate and rule within the boundaries of our Constitution; its citizens will also be voting on the legalization of recreational marijuana use.
There are several ways to view the legalization of this drug—societal safety, economically, politically, and religious to name a few.
If we desire to look objectively at this issue, we need to also look at what’s been happening in those states in which marijuana has already been legalized. We will use Colorado for our data since they were the first state to legalize recreational marijuana and therefore has the deepest data with which we can compare what is happening there and what the good citizens of Michigan could reasonably expect to find in their state in the years to come if they should choose to pass proposal one in November.
From an economic view, Fortune reports that “in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, Colorado took in $105 million in tax revenue from marijuana sales.” That sounds all fine and well; but Colorado’s governor, John Hickenlooper, doesn’t rule out recriminalizing it.
There might be several reasons why Colorado would consider making marijuana illegal again. The one that Governor Hickenlooper points to is crime. “Since 2013, Denver has seen its crime rise as the national average has fallen. In 2016, the crime rate was up 4%, with violent crime rising 9%.” Although the police aren’t convinced that it’s due to marijuana, it would be quite a coincidence that marijuana was legalized recreationally in 2014.
What other areas should we look at in considering the legalization of recreational marijuana?
When it comes to societal safety, Governor Hickenlooper, gives warning to other states and their governors. As reported by the L.A. Times, “‘We didn't regulate edibles strongly enough at first,’ Hickenlooper said in an interview this week at a gathering in Coronado of the Western Governors' Assn. He cited a spike in emergency room visits by kids who had eaten marijuana products and two cases in which young adults who had reportedly consumed marijuana edibles died — one after shooting himself and the other after jumping off a hotel balcony.”
If we are going to open our state up for legalized recreational marijuana and the infused products that naturally come with such legalization—marijuana-infused brownies, gummy candies, and lollipops—I would hope that our lawmakers would have the foresight to develop and implement a strong infrastructure of regulations that would be consistently and stringently enforced. However, when the camel’s nose slips under the tent, it’s not long before the whole smelly camel occupies your dwelling.
Dr. Sam Wang, a physician at Children's Hospital Colorado, states, “Ingestion of edible products continues to be a major source of marijuana exposures in children and poses a unique problem because no other drug is infused into a palatable and appetizing form.” This would explain the “increase in emergency room visits for kids under 9 who ingested pot after recreational shops opened.” (L.A. Times) There are a surprising number of “pot edibles” available to the public which would be a potential danger to unsuspecting children.
Societal safety goes well beyond the children though. The Denver Post reports: “The number of marijuana-related automobile fatalities in Colorado, as measured by the drug’s chief psychoactive ingredient, hit 77 in 2016, the latest in a series of sharp increases in recent years. Fifty-one of those drivers had levels of that substance, called Delta 9 THC, above the threshold for cannabis impairment under Colorado law.
“And according to a survey done by CDOT last year, just over half of marijuana users said they had gotten behind the wheel of a vehicle in the last 30 days within two hours of using the drug.”
Here’s an article on “Teen Brains Hurt More by Marijuana than by Alcohol.” In this article you’ll find many alarming facts, including that “teens who smoke marijuana daily are 60 percent less likely to graduate from high school or college than those who never use — and seven times more likely to attempt suicide.”
How does marijuana affect the workplace and coworkers? Occupational Health and Safety states:
“Marijuana use has been linked to an increase in job accidents and injuries, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that the short-term effects of marijuana include impaired body movement, difficulty with thinking and problem-solving, memory problems, and an altered sense of time.”
“The drug impairs attentiveness, motor coordination, and reaction time and impacts the perception of time and speed. Studies from the National Institute on Drug Abuse have found that marijuana negatively impacts driving performance, and other researchers have found that acute use of the drug increases the risk of crashes and fatal collisions.”
“Issues with attendance and productivity also can arise from marijuana use, and morale may be impacted.”
“In the 1970s, marijuana had a content of THC (marijuana's active ingredient) of about 1 percent. Today, THC content is nearly 13 percent, and some strains are advertised as having a THC content of around 25 percent or higher.”
Ironically, that $105 million tax revenue is used “to create housing programs, aid mental health programs in jails and contribute to health programs at local middle schools.” (Fortune) I say ironically because CNN tells us, “The state's rate of homelessness rose 5.3% from 2013 to 2017, according to data from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Nationally, the rate of homelessness dropped 8.6% in the same period.” Although no one is willing to directly tie this to marijuana, one cannot deny the potential tie in. And The Gazette reports, “Harry Bull, the Superintendent of Cherry Creek Schools, said, ‘So far, the only thing that the legalization of marijuana has brought to our schools has been marijuana.’”
Let me summarize two more areas quickly—the political and religious aspects.
It’s important to ask if this is constitutional. After checking with politicians and others who are scholarly about our Constitution, I find that there are no real clear answers. The consensus is that it is up to “We the People” of the state.
As I am quickly running out of room, let me be brief and blunt as we look at the spiritual aspect of this controversial subject. Although there are many verses one could point to, let us look at Ephesians 5:16-18, where Paul calls us to 1) Redeem the time, 2) understand the will of the Lord, and 3) be not drunk with wine, but to be filled with the Spirit. Here, the point is not the wine so much as the being drunk—or not in control of our full faculties. Perhaps oversimplified, but as I said, brief. To watch a panel of respected theologians discuss this topic click here.
As I listen to proponents from both sides of the debate, there are very few of those in favor of marijuana legalization who make their case based on marijuana use itself. Either they want to point to the problems with alcohol abuse and misused prescription drugs or use the allowance of these substances as a reason for legalization. When one of my children comes to me hoping to justify their actions (or potential actions) based on one of their siblings doing wrong, that doesn’t help their case. It does, however, bring to light the necessity of dealing with other problems. In other words, if one uses the argument that marijuana should be allowed because alcohol abuse is just as bad as or more dangerous than marijuana or that prescription drugs alter one’s mind as well, they aren’t valid arguments. If there are valid concerns, let’s address those issues rather than adding to them.
Many also claim that anyone who would smoke marijuana is already doing it, so we might as well make it legal. That is also a fallacy. There are still some who either respect or fear the law, which keeps them from doing many other things too. For that matter, legalizing it just pushes the line for others to cross. Not all will, but many do. Remember when the speed limit was 65 mph? Some would drive 70 mph claiming that the police will give you a 5 mph grace window. But those who would not think of driving 80 mph then easily do so now that the speed limit is 70 or 75mph.
I urge you to think about all the facts we have brought to light here. Are these things worth the legalization of a substance that hinders families, jobs, clear thought, and so on? It WILL affect our society and your family. Yes, the same can be said for other substances; but then let’s deal with those substances. Let’s not add to our troubles.
Another good website to check out regarding this issue is www.healthyandproductivemi.org.
The American Decency Association is pleased to bring Kevin Freeman into West Michigan (Details)
Freeman is a man with a Biblical worldview. He has stood in high places facing tough challenges. God opened the door for Kevin to speak in Fremont (Friday, October 26) and Holland (Saturday, October 27).
Freeman’s messages will cover risks of subversive market crash, cyber warfare, debt trap, dollar attacks by the left coordinating with enemies and adversaries (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Islamists).These are not just threats to America, but also direct attacks on our Judeo-Christian heritage and our faith. The purpose of this talk is designed to promote wise preparation.
To register for either the Fremont or Holland location call us at 231-924-4050 or email kimberly@americandecency.org
To support our efforts please click here or mail your gift to American Decency Association (ADA), PO Box 202, Fremont, MI 49412.
American Decency Association is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
Call us:
231-924-4050Email us:
info@americandecency.orgWrite us:
American Decency AssociationCopyright 2024 American Decency
