REEFER MADNESS! An uncharted path — Where are we headed with marijuana? Is legalization the right answer?
Several states are currently considering marijuana reform legislation ranging from reducing the legal consequences for possessing marijuana all the way to outright legalization. In 2014, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper proclaimed the legalization of marijuana in his state as “one of the great social experiments of the 21st century.” He asserted the grand experiment would offer opportunities for other states to learn from the successes and failures of the adventure. So, what have we learned?
In 2015, the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area reported some of the impacts that Colorado was experiencing since the social experiment began. The state has absorbed an increase in marijuana use for youths, college aged adults, and adults over 26 years old.
The Colorado State Patrol is reporting increases in impaired driving incidents related to marijuana. Since 2009, other impacts include an increase in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and marijuana related calls to the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center. Several other states are reporting that the marijuana obtained in Colorado is being diverted and making its way across the state lines causing negative consequences.
There have also been impacts felt on fronts outside of the boarders of the United States. Four-star Marine Corp General John Kelly, U.S. Southern Commander was recently interviewed by Military Times and explained some of the problems encountered when the United States begins to relax the laws associated with marijuana. The U.S. Southern Commands includes military personnel in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. He articulated the difficulty in asking Latin Americans to stop the flow of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine while we send a message of “softening” our stance against marijuana use. Drug producers realize the demand for the drugs is driving the market and significantly adding to the profits enjoyed by the drug cartels.
The great social experiment proclaimed by Governor Hickenlooper has begun and we are beginning to see some of the negative consequences associated with the legalization of marijuana. Yes, there have been some positive consequences for the legalization of marijuana including the $44 million dollars received by the government in the first five months of 2015 and $76 million from 2014. In the end, time will be the judge as the great experiment continues …..
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