WEEDING THROUGH MARIJUANA LEGISLATION

Marijuana legislation is not a simple issue. In fact, it is a muddled
quagmire of complex concerns. Most people have seen the 1938
propaganda film Reefer Madness depicting the tragic events and
eventual insanity of high school students lured into using marijuana.
In the 72 years since the film was produced, much research has been
done to bring valid awareness to the dangers as well as medicinal
qualities encompassed in this herb. Laws, however, haven't changed
much since a movement in the '70s and passionate arguments are being
fired from both sides.

Pro

If marijuana is legalized there will be:

Quality control by FDA.

No need for bootlegging, ending the demand filled by the deadly
Mexican drug cartels.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue for debt-ridden states.

Less burden on the prison system to house convicted recreational and
medical users.

A safer, more effective treatment option for some serious medical conditions.

Con

Marijuana use is associated with impaired cognitive function,
respiratory illness and mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Marijuana is a gateway drug causing some users to move on to more
dangerous narcotics.

With easier access and lower prices, there will be an increase in usage.

There will be more auto accidents as the rate of impaired drivers increases.

High costs to health care, criminal justice and the workplace in lost
productivity will arise.

Personal, Not Political

To some this is a political or legislative issue and purely
ideological. For others this is very personal. There are many stories
of marriages being brought to ruin, lives of teens being damaged and
other devastating consequences attributed to on-going use of
marijuana. For those people, legalization seems like the worst possible choice.

To others who have received relief from chronic pain, marijuana is a
gift from God. People suffering horribly from multiple sclerosis,
cancer or AIDS aren't seeking a recreational high; they simply want a
more effective treatment option.

Laws Are Inconsistent and Widely Varying

Legislation varies widely from state to state as well as counties ...
and those laws are often in conflict with federal regulations, which
prohibit the use or possession of the drug altogether. California is
the top state for approved medicinal use and is leading the charge
for legislative reform of recreational use. There are about a dozen
states where marijuana use has been decriminalized including Alaska,
Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska,
Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Oregon. Users typically
don't get jail time or a criminal record in these states. Southern
states tend to maintain stricter policies, with Florida's laws
considered the harshest in the U.S.

This year's mid-term elections included many reform measures on
ballots across the country. The most prominent was Proposition 19, an
effort by some Californians to legalize pot for recreational use in
that state. It was defeated by 54 to 46 percent, but younger voters
(under age 50) are highly supportive and many don't vote as often in
the mid-terms. With this in mind, politicians on both sides of the
aisle simply can't dismiss the issue and it appears to be looming
larger in the 2012 election from coast to coast. There is likely to
be similar legislation proposed in Washington, Oregon, Alaska,
Colorado and Nevada in upcoming years. Right here in Ahwatukee
Foothills we may soon see clinics dispensing medical marijuana.

Seeking Truth

There is a mountain of seemingly valid and credible research
supporting both sides of the legalization debate. There does seem to
be a bias against medicinal use that doesn't exist for other
treatment options. If the slate was wiped clean and marijuana was
being evaluated by the FDA from scratch it would likely be considered
a safe and useful prescription. However, current perception prevents
a non-biased assessment by virtually anyone.

While there does seem to be a case for providing medically approved
use of marijuana to those suffering serious, chronic or terminal
illnesses, and the current system appears to be one of extremes. In
most states it is not available for legal use under any circumstances
while it is readily accessible for minor pain in those states that
have laws approving medical use. Those laws are clearly being abused.

As you consider and pray about marijuana legislation: Take a fresh,
honest look at this issue. Seek ways to protect and encourage
families with drug-related problems. Pray for God to comfort and ease
the pain of serious illness sufferers and for guidance, wisdom and
non-political motives for elected officials as they decide on new legislation.

Most information is available on these site and associated links:
http://norml.org/index.cfm and
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/pdf/mj_legal.pdf