Pubdate: Sun, 21 Sep 2014
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2014 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Tom Gorman
Note: Tom Gorman is director of the Rocky Mountain High Intensity 
Drug Trafficking Area program.
Note: Other task force members signing onto this report were Lin 
Browning, president/CEO of the Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce; 
Dr. Mark Johnson, Jefferson County Public Health; James McCormick, 
vice president for Student Life, Colorado Christian University; 
Charles Tingle, Jefferson County District Attorney's Office; John 
Wolforth, Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Division; Patricia 
Woodin, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; and Donna Viverette, 
Jefferson County Public Health.
Page: 1D

Point-Counterpoint

Should Jefferson County Allow Retail Marijuana Stores in 
Unincorporated Parts of the County?

NO: THERE ARE TOO MANY DOWNSIDES

The Jefferson County Marijuana Task Force spent three months 
listening to testimony, reviewing studies and examining evidence 
related to prohibiting or permitting licensed marijuana establishment 
in unincorporated Jefferson County.

The task force found compelling evidence that it would not be in the 
best interest of Jefferson County or its citizens to allow marijuana 
establishments. Although the circumstantial evidence was significant, 
it is important to note that Colorado's experience with legalizing 
recreational marijuana is relatively new and some data is lacking.

It will take another two to four years to be able to totally assess 
the impact of legalizing recreational marijuana based on data and 
facts, not rhetoric. However, there is compelling evidence to support 
the position that the probable and possible consequences are 
sufficiently negative that the best decision is to ban marijuana 
establishments.

Some of the negative impacts discovered by the task force include:

There is a probability that overall crime will increase. Applied 
logic would suggest that whenever there is an increase in people 
under the influence of any drug, crime would be impacted. This is 
particularly true with youth who often engage in risky behavior that 
studies have shown increase with marijuana use.

Traffic fatalities involving operators who tested positive for 
marijuana have increased 100 percent since Colorado commercializing 
medical marijuana.

The legalization of recreational marijuana in 2013 has demonstrated 
that marijuana-impaired driving will likely increase. Seventy-seven 
percent of the Colorado State Patrol's 2014 Driving Under the 
Influence of Drugs (DUID) Program incidents involved marijuana and 42 
percent were for marijuana alone.

Students being referred to law enforcement for incidents related to 
marijuana have increased 45 percent since the commercialization of 
medical marijuana.

Recent experience in Denver shows an increase in citations for public 
consumption of marijuana from 2013 to 2014.

Hospitalizations related to marijuana increased 82 percent from 2008 to 2013.

Thousands of studies from reputable universities and medical schools 
have substantiated a number of negative health impacts 
including:  Respiratory and pulmonary adverse 
effects.  Cardiovascular: Increase in contributions to heart attacks 
and strokes.

Cancer: Marijuana playing a role in certain cancers including lung 
and testicular cancer.

Prenatal exposure: Impacts on fetuses from marijuana-smoking mothers 
that later cause cognitive and attention deficits.

Marijuana contributing to cognitive impairments including attention, 
working memory, verbal learning and memory functions.

Problems with marijuana dependence and/or addiction.

Sale or production of marijuana is a federal violation which 
pre-empts state or local law. A marijuana establishment is a criminal 
enterprise under federal law.

A new administration could elect to enforce the law, subjecting those 
engaged in the marijuana business to prosecution and the assets 
subject to seizure.

There is a probability that the overall societal cost in the future 
will far outweigh revenue. The experience with alcohol and tobacco 
supports that position.

A survey of business owners in unincorporated Jefferson County shows 
that 51 percent believe marijuana establishments would detract from 
the quality of life and image of the county. Only 28 percent believed 
it would enhance the quality of life and image of the county.

 From a business perspective, there is a concern that property values 
would be adversely impacted, including some environmental concerns.

Licensing marijuana establishments would also raise workplace drug 
policy issues and potential litigation.

In a Jefferson County tele forum poll, 72 percent of the respondents 
said that they did not want recreational marijuana sales in 
unincorporated Jefferson County, while 74 percent said marijuana 
sales would harm the lives of Jefferson County residents.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom