Pubdate: Wed, 10 Oct 2012
Source: Issaquah Press (WA)
Copyright: 2012 Issaquah Press
Contact:  http://www.issaquahpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5255
Author: Derek Franklin

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

People Should Know Risks, Full Story

Many have seen TV ads supporting marijuana legalization and I-502. 
However, some risks of legalization are largely unknown and local 
residents deserve the full story.

"The claim that legalization and tight regulation will mean that 
youth will use less is bogus, because we don't have the experiment," 
according to co-director of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center, 
Rosalie Pacula. Marijuana is already the No. 1 reason Washington 
youths enter drug treatment - we should not experiment on Washington kids.

Legal marijuana, often compared to legal alcohol, would cost 
significantly more than it would bring in. Nationally, alcohol brings 
in only 6 percent of its actual social costs through taxes and fees.

Marijuana is the most prevalent illegal drug detected in impaired 
drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims.

Between 2000-2011, no one in Washington was sent to jail solely 
because they possessed marijuana for personal use. Of those arrested 
with marijuana-related charges as one of their offenses, 42 percent 
were under age 21 and would still be arrested under I-502.

A recent Duke University study found that smoking marijuana regularly 
before age 18 predicts a permanent eight-point loss in IQ, even after 
prolonged abstinence.

The American Medical Association and Washington Association of 
Sheriffs and Police Chiefs already oppose legalization. I-502 is a 
bad deal for Washington.

Derek Franklin

Sammamish
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom