Pubdate: Sun, 06 Sep 2015
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2015 The Arizona Republic
Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Terry Griffin

THE DOWNSIDE OF LEGAL POT, FROM COLORADO

I recently moved to Arizona from Denver, where I served as the metro 
Denver coordinator for The Salvation Army. While there, I witnessed 
the unintended consequences of legalized marijuana for which neither 
the city nor the state were prepared.

Our organization provided an emergency shelter in downtown Denver. 
When I arrived three years ago the shelter was averaging 200 men per 
night. When I left in May, the shelter was averaging 600 per night 
and every shelter in the city was full to overflowing.

A study indicated the reason many were flocking to Colorado was legal 
marijuana.

In addition, there were many reports of children getting marijuana 
from their parents and taking it into schools of every level. 
Children were ingesting brownies and food laced with marijuana and 
going to the ER. People driving under the influence of marijuana is 
an added problem.

That which is being promoted to save our schools leads to significant 
other problems and expense. Citizens need to be made aware of these 
unintended consequences.

- - Terry Griffin, Surprise
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom