The Truth about the Marijuana Initiative on the November 2012 Ballot
A group called Show-Me Cannabis is collecting signatures to put their marijuana initiative on the November 2012 ballot for Missouri voters. The billion dollar movement‘s primary target is to amend Missouri’s constitution to make Marijuana LEGAL for all use (not just medical use). The average voter, and certainly our youth, has been hearing for many years the number of states that have “legalized” marijuana for medical “prescriptions.” Both of these terms are misleading and inaccurate –leading many to conclude marijuana is acceptable and cannot possibly be harmful.
The fact is:
1) Marijuana is illegal in our country – across all states. Some states have merely decriminalized marijuana for medical use.
2) Marijuana is NOT prescribed. Doctors cannot prescribe a non-FDA approved substance; in medical excused marijuana states, they can only “recommend” it. In fact, no legitimate medical association endorses medicinal marijuana.
Myth: Marijuana can help cure symptoms of cancer.
Fact: Scientists have proven that Marijuana has 400 “unstable” chemicals” and four times more carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) than tobacco smoke. Marijuana has been shown to WEAKEN the immune system and aggravate pre-existing conditions in AIDS patients, organ transplant recipients, and chemotherapy patients, all of which are the target of medical marijuana. Additionally, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the active ingredients in marijuana, is significantly associated with respiratory infection and tumor growth. One of the main reasons why marijuana may cause cancer is because it is considerably linked to DNA damage, which can initiate tumor growth.
Myth: The choice to use marijuana affects only the smoker.
Fact: Marijuana is already a significant causal factor in highway crashes, injuries and deaths. In a recent national roadside survey of weekend nighttime drivers, 8.6% tested positive for marijuana or its metabolites, nearly four times the percentage of drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or above. Employees that test positive for the use of these drugs make twice as many worker compensation claims, use almost twice the medical benefits, take 1/3 more leave time than non-users, and are 60% more likely to be responsible for accidents. 80% of people hurt on the job in accidents involving marijuana are the co-workers of users, not the users themselves. Research shows that the instances of physically attacking people, stealing property, and destroying property increase in direct proportion to the frequency with which teens smoke marijuana.
Myth: Marijuana is safe and non- addictive.
Fact: The National Institute on Drug Abuse indicates that marijuana is psychologically addictive: Addicted users feel compulsive urges to seek and use the drug despite potential negative consequences. Since THC rapidly passes into the bloodstream and throughout the body, prolonged use of marijuana can permanently alter the brain’s natural tendency to balance and regulate motivation and reward. Psychological dependence–per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual criteria of seeking the drug despite the negative consequences of use and using a greater quantity of marijuana than originally intended–grows as drug tolerance increases. One study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found more than 30% of adults who used marijuana in the course of a year were dependent on the drug. These individuals often show signs of withdrawals and compulsive behavior. The numbers are even more compelling among adolescents. In 2009, 830,000 youth had marijuana addiction characteristics.
Myth: Tax revenue collected from marijuana sales would substantially outweigh the social costs of legalization.
Fact: The history of taxes related to alcohol and tobacco prove taxes from legal marijuana would not positively impact the economy. Alcohol-related costs total over $185 billion while federal and states collected an estimated $14.5 billion in tax revenue; similarly, tobacco use costs over $200 billion but only $25 billion is collected in taxes. These figures show that the costs of legal alcohol are more than 12 times the total tax revenue collected, and that the costs of legal tobacco are about 8 times the tax revenue collected.
Myth: The jails are full of marijuana smokers.
Fact: There is a common misconception that the principle costs of marijuana use are those related to the criminal justice system. This is false. Research has found that the percentage of people in prison for marijuana use is less than half of one percent (0.50%). An encounter with the criminal justice system through apprehension for a drug-related crime frequently can benefit the offender because the criminal justice system is often a path to treatment.
Myth: Decriminalizing marijuana would put dangerous, underground street dealers out of business so their influence in the community will fade.
Fact: In states who have passed marijuana decriminalization laws, many black-market dealers have rationally chosen to remain in the black market to avoid taxation and regulation. Fueled by generous growing allowances and an enormous supply, criminal sales operations have flourished in these states as marijuana was sold outside the state and, at the same time, out-of-state growers attempted to access the more permissive market inside the state.
What can you do?
The Northland Coalition urges you not to sign these petitions or vote to pass this initiative. Our best defense against this initiative is to educate our community about the seriousness of this issue.
