Measure Threatens Drug-Use Decline

AMENDMENT 44: THE MARIJUANA INITIATIVE

And on the other hand...

Let's start with good news about marijuana and other drugs of abuse.
The percentage of people using illicit drugs in the United States has
been reduced approximately 50 percent from its peak in 1979. Among our
teenagers, from 2001 to 2005, drug use, primarily marijuana, has
dropped by 20 percent. In fact, only about 6.8 percent of youths
between the ages of 12 and 18 report using marijuana.

Now the bad news: People such as the proponents of Amendment 44 are
playing roulette with our youth and adults by trying to legalize
marijuana, which will reverse this downward trend.

What is the real motive behind trying to legalize marijuana?
Proponents of 44 want to legalize an ounce of marijuana regardless of
the evidence that marijuana use will increase among both teenagers and
adults.

We should take a lesson from the Netherlands, which made marijuana
legal for adults, resulting in teenage marijuana use tripling in only
seven years. In our own country, after Alaska legalized ounce
quantities of marijuana for adults, teenage marijuana use in that
state doubled to the then-national average (23 percent).

Is this what we want for Colorado's future leaders? The perception of
public acceptance of a behavior plays a significant role in increasing
that behavior.

Under Amendment 44, an adult, if not compensated, can legally provide
marijuana to a youth 15 or older without fear of being prosecuted
under Colorado drug laws. Unbelievable? The proponents in official
documents called this loophole an "unintended consequence."

They now claim that the person could be prosecuted under the statute
for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Maybe that will be true, but we won't know until it is litigated in
the courts. How would you feel about an adult giving marijuana to your
high school freshman, then waiting for the courts to decide the law?

Let's not condone these so-called "unintentional consequences" by
approving Amendment 44.

The proponents of 44 want you to believe that marijuana is a safe
drug. Thousands of legitimate studies from reputable researchers and
universities refute that claim. Marijuana is damaging both physically
and psychologically.

They try to compare alcohol with marijuana, a faulty comparison since
so many more people use alcohol than marijuana. There are more people
with major ongoing alcohol problems than use all the illegal drugs
combined. Part of the reason is that alcohol is legal, socially
accepted and little risk is perceived in its use. Let's not do that
with marijuana. The only true "safe" alternative is sobriety.

Don't be misled when you hear that alcohol kills, whereas marijuana
doesn't. The fact is marijuana has killed and continues to kill. Ask
the grieving parents of all the youths killed on the highways by
drivers under the influence of marijuana.

Consider the other potential consequences if the state were to
legalize marijuana. Do we really want to attract drug users as a new
tourist base or residents? Will your police officers, teachers, bus
drivers, pilots and others be able to use marijuana with no sanctions?

Please, for the sake of our great state and its future, vote no on
44.