Pubdate: Sun, 21 Oct 2012
Source: Herald, The (Everett, WA)
Copyright: 2012 The Daily Herald Co.
Contact:  http://www.heraldnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/190
Author: Bill Dickinson
Note: Bill Dickinson is an addiction medicine physician in Everett.

MARIJUANA IS TOO RISKY FOR LEGALIZATION

Initiative 502 causes more harm than good. It promotes "legalization" 
of marijuana (cannabis). "Legalization" fosters a perception that 
cannabis is harmless and less risky. This will be associated with 
more people trying and using cannabis, both adults and teens. 
Marijuana is neither safe nor harmless. There are more than 400 
compounds in the cannabis plant and 60 or more cannabinoids (the 
active substances in the marijuana plant). Only a few of these 
substances have been studied.

Smoking marijuana produces harmful substances similar to those 
produced when tobacco is smoked. Smoking causes lung problems similar 
to tobacco. Cannabis causes a decrease in short-term memory, 
attention, learning, and concentration. This causes problems in 
school, at work and with driving. For some users, the psychological 
effects are even more troubling. Anxiety and paranoia can be 
crippling. Studies with schizophrenics have shown that cannabis use 
made their schizophrenia worse.

Teenage brains are the most affected. The earlier that cannabis is 
used, the more effects are seen. Sophisticated imaging studies known 
as PET scans show that cannabis delays the maturation process of the 
brain. A New Zealand study of 1,000 teens over a 25-year period 
showed that teens who regularly used marijuana had lowered IQ scores, 
8 IQ points on average, that persisted into their 30s. An 8-IQ point 
reduction is very significant. The delay in maturation of the brain 
and lowered intelligence plus the declines in attention, 
concentration, memory, and learning show up as school, work, and 
driving problems. Currently one-third of high school students are 
using cannabis. Why would society foster "legalization"? This sends 
the wrong message. Youth perceive this as less risk of cannabis 
problems. Less risk translates into more use. This will affect more teens.

Proponents of this initiative say that some of the taxes raised by 
sales of this drug will pay for the increased education and treatment 
needed. I am against creating more teens and adults who need 
treatment. Also, this initiative does not guarantee that funding for 
treatment will be available after two years. After a period of two 
years, the Legislature will be able to redirect any and all taxes 
collected to other priorities if they so choose. Treatment for teens 
who use cannabis should be universal since the use of cannabis is 
very damaging to their development and success in society.

I-502 also has severe legal consequences for youth (under age 21) who 
are tested and found to have cannabis in their system when driving. A 
positive test means an automatic conviction without any possible 
defense or mitigation. This harms people under age 21 while not 
providing any treatment options to help them stop marijuana use.

Marijuana is addictive to 9 percent to 10 percent of users. 
Proponents of "legalization" argue that this is no big deal. Tell 
that to the people who are dependent. I am able to get people off of 
cocaine and heroin, but they are not able to stop using cannabis. The 
more people who use cannabis, the more people who will need 
treatment. For the last 30 years, people have been hybridizing the 
cannabis plant to make the cannabinoids stronger. Most of this has 
been focused on what was thought as the most "high" producing 
cannabinoid, d-9 THC (delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or often just 
called THC). The amount of THC in the cannabis plant was 0.5 to 2 
percent 20 to 30 years ago. Now it is common to find cannabis with 4 
percent to 6 percent THC and some strains can have 10 percent to 20 
percent. People who used cannabis many years ago remember a substance 
with fewer effects. They may be inclined to think "what's the big 
deal." The cannabis sold today is rocket fuel ! compared to the 
cannabis found years ago. The effects, especially the negative 
effects, are much more profound. I-502 does not state what THC or 
other cannabinoid percentages may be acceptable.

I-502 only tests for THC. The other cannabinoids and their variants 
go undetected. Any drug tests for marijuana and cannabis abuse must 
detect all of the cannabinoid substances.

I-502 sets up the framework for an extensive growing, processing, and 
retail distribution system for marijuana throughout the state. This 
has not been tried on a small scale. The proposed initiative does not 
have enough monitoring and enforcement for this huge system. This is 
alarming as the state of Washington has had problems monitoring and 
enforcing the current "medical marijuana" laws. How are we to believe 
that the state can monitor this larger and more extensive system? The 
proponents believe that taxation of the system would bring in many 
millions of dollars. Initially this would be used for the first two 
years to help with public health problems, the general fund, drug 
prevention and treatment, education, and research. The funding is 
only guaranteed for two years. After this, the Legislature can put 
more or all of the taxation into the general fund if they desire and 
eliminate funding for public health, education, and treatment.

This initiative states that making a legal means to grow, process, 
and sell cannabis will put the illegal market out of business. 
Unfortunately this is not true. The illegal market is very 
sophisticated and well established. It will be able to undercut the 
legal market prices and will be able to infiltrate some of the legal 
operations. The illicit market will vary its price to compete with 
retail outlets that are being taxed. I believe the illicit market 
will have no trouble setting prices that are below the retail outlets.

Advertisements to vote yes for this initiative say it is time for a 
conversation. This proposal is not about a conversation. It is about 
full legalization and the establishment of cannabis growing, 
processing, and retail sales in your neighborhoods. And finally, 
I-502 is about a direct confrontation with the U.S, (federal) 
government which has been clear that marijuana is illegal. That also 
does not sound like a conversation.

Reject legalization. Decriminalization has worked in other states. 
Decriminalization addresses legal concerns without the harmful and 
risky position of legalization. Decriminalization does not set up an 
immense marijuana growing, processing, and retail sales system 
fostered by the state of Washington as does I-502. Decriminalization 
does not foster increased use by teens and adults. I-502 will 
increase the number of adults and teens using marijuana. 
Decriminalization does not set us on a collision course with the 
Federal government as I-502 does.

Reject I-502 because it trades more use of marijuana by adults and 
teens leading to more physical, psychological and social problems in 
exchange for a huge growing, processing and distribution system of 
marijuana fostered by Washington state with the promise of tax money 
to solve our budget woes. This is shameful.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom