Reducing drug abuse
We know drug abuse is a trap, especially for the young. We can have a state where fewer people fall into this trap, and instead reach their full potential.
Drug abuse and the addiction that often follows are traps that too many Americans have fallen into. With smart measures, we can reduce marijuana and other drug use while also reducing incarceration rates.
Republicans including Ron Nehring and Democrats including Jerry Brown and Dianne Feinstein agree: California should not go down the path of expanding drug use through marijuana legalization. Instead, we can choose a better way.
UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE IMPACT OF MARIJUANA USE
Over the last ten years, we’ve seen a well-funded efforts by some interest groups to redefine marijuana not as a dangerous drug, but as “medicine,” glossing over powerful effect this drug can have on people, especially the young.
Across the board legalization of marijuana would cause use to skyrocket. Currently, 52% of Americans use alcohol, 27% use tobacco, but only 8% of Americans use pot. A RAND study of Proposition 19 in California found that prices would drop and use would rise dramatically. Imagine a state with hundreds of thousands more people, including those on the road, in the workplace, and in schools under the influence.
Looking at America’s experience with tobacco, we know that Big Marijuana, like Big Tobacco, will target young people – those people who will be most negatively impacted by its use because their minds are still developing.
Legalization proponents claim marijuana legalization would produce a surge in tax revenue, but the truth is that with alcohol and tobacco, the high taxes on those products only recover about $1 in taxes for every $10 in social costs that are generated through impacts on health, insurance rates, risk, accidents, and other effects.
Claims that legalization would suddenly rein in big drug cartels are also fantasy. Research shows the cartels mainly traffic in cocaine, guns, and human beings. Only 15% to 25% of their enterprises are in marijuana.
The medical community is united and does not support legalization efforts. This includes the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Cancer Society, the American Glaucoma Foundation, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association.
Ron supports in broad terms the approach pioneered by Project SAM -- a non-partisan initiative working to advance reforms that reduce drug use with a focus on treatment. Learn more about Project SAM.
We know drug abuse is a trap, especially for the young. We can have a state where fewer people fall into this trap, and instead reach their full potential.
Drug abuse and the addiction that often follows are traps that too many Americans have fallen into. With smart measures, we can reduce marijuana and other drug use while also reducing incarceration rates.
Republicans including Ron Nehring and Democrats including Jerry Brown and Dianne Feinstein agree: California should not go down the path of expanding drug use through marijuana legalization. Instead, we can choose a better way.
UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE IMPACT OF MARIJUANA USE
Over the last ten years, we’ve seen a well-funded efforts by some interest groups to redefine marijuana not as a dangerous drug, but as “medicine,” glossing over powerful effect this drug can have on people, especially the young.
- It negatively impacts the brain in the areas of memory, learning, attention and reaction time. These effects last not just for a few hours, but up to 28 days.
- We know the adolescent brain is not fully developed until age 25. Marijuana use during this important period of development negatively impacts personality, decision-making and social behavior.
- Use is linked to schizophrenia, psychosis, depression and anxiety.
- Researchers have found a 4x increase in heart attack risk during the one hour following use.
- Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco.
- Heavy use can reduce IQ by as much as 8 points.
- Use is linked to dropping out of school unemployment, welfare dependence and a lower quality of life.
Across the board legalization of marijuana would cause use to skyrocket. Currently, 52% of Americans use alcohol, 27% use tobacco, but only 8% of Americans use pot. A RAND study of Proposition 19 in California found that prices would drop and use would rise dramatically. Imagine a state with hundreds of thousands more people, including those on the road, in the workplace, and in schools under the influence.
Looking at America’s experience with tobacco, we know that Big Marijuana, like Big Tobacco, will target young people – those people who will be most negatively impacted by its use because their minds are still developing.
Legalization proponents claim marijuana legalization would produce a surge in tax revenue, but the truth is that with alcohol and tobacco, the high taxes on those products only recover about $1 in taxes for every $10 in social costs that are generated through impacts on health, insurance rates, risk, accidents, and other effects.
Claims that legalization would suddenly rein in big drug cartels are also fantasy. Research shows the cartels mainly traffic in cocaine, guns, and human beings. Only 15% to 25% of their enterprises are in marijuana.
The medical community is united and does not support legalization efforts. This includes the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Cancer Society, the American Glaucoma Foundation, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association.
Ron supports in broad terms the approach pioneered by Project SAM -- a non-partisan initiative working to advance reforms that reduce drug use with a focus on treatment. Learn more about Project SAM.
Even leading Democrats including Gov. Jerry Brown oppose Gavin Newsom's plans to expand drug use in California through legalization. Watch this KCRA news story that features Governor Brown's rejection of Newsom's proposal. |
|