Here in Colorado, my beautiful adopted state, something occurred that was not so beautiful -- the voters legalized pot. The ramifications of this are surfacing every day.
How did this happen? Here in Colorado we have something called a ballot initiative, where anyone can place on the ballot a proposition as long as there are a required number of signatures. So one of the initiatives that was on the ballot was to legalize pot. I remember thinking, this will never pass, but it did. Why? Follow the money, always.
There are huge profits to be made from the growers, yes we also get taxes that go to the state--somewhere. And I am not objecting to medical marijuana which helps many with seizures and pain control, especially in cancer patients. My mother who died of pancreatic cancer and had intense nausea and pain would have been helped.
No, I am talking about recreational marijuana. Now it is being added to food and candy and the whole attitude is one of frivolity and being a kind of new food or wine. In Colorado, a few months ago, one of the catering companies offered catered dinner parties where selected foods would be served that complemented marijuana--but bring your own stash. Oh so chi, chi.
Unfortunately, the new strains of marijuana are up to five times stronger than what was available in the '60s. In Colorado the THC levels for recreational pot is 20% or higher. With these higher percentages, there are increased health risks. At least two deaths in Colorado are attributed to marijuana which was consumed in edible form. One man shot his wife after eating marijuana candy, and the other committed suicide after consuming cookies containing large amounts of marijuana.
The worst effect is that teenagers who become addicted consuming the "new" pot affect their IQ and cause irreversible damage to their brain. The brains of teenagers are still developing so this is a real risk; their adulthood will be seriously impaired as they become addicted.
But Americans do not see this as a public health menace which it is. There is so much misinformation and a disconnect between public opinion and science. In March a Wall Street Journal and NBC poll, Americans viewed sugar as more dangerous than marijuana.
When a society cares more about its pleasures than its children, we are in trouble.
Reference: Wall Street Journal, "Legal Pot is a Menace." August 14, 2014
How did this happen? Here in Colorado we have something called a ballot initiative, where anyone can place on the ballot a proposition as long as there are a required number of signatures. So one of the initiatives that was on the ballot was to legalize pot. I remember thinking, this will never pass, but it did. Why? Follow the money, always.
There are huge profits to be made from the growers, yes we also get taxes that go to the state--somewhere. And I am not objecting to medical marijuana which helps many with seizures and pain control, especially in cancer patients. My mother who died of pancreatic cancer and had intense nausea and pain would have been helped.
No, I am talking about recreational marijuana. Now it is being added to food and candy and the whole attitude is one of frivolity and being a kind of new food or wine. In Colorado, a few months ago, one of the catering companies offered catered dinner parties where selected foods would be served that complemented marijuana--but bring your own stash. Oh so chi, chi.
Unfortunately, the new strains of marijuana are up to five times stronger than what was available in the '60s. In Colorado the THC levels for recreational pot is 20% or higher. With these higher percentages, there are increased health risks. At least two deaths in Colorado are attributed to marijuana which was consumed in edible form. One man shot his wife after eating marijuana candy, and the other committed suicide after consuming cookies containing large amounts of marijuana.
The worst effect is that teenagers who become addicted consuming the "new" pot affect their IQ and cause irreversible damage to their brain. The brains of teenagers are still developing so this is a real risk; their adulthood will be seriously impaired as they become addicted.
But Americans do not see this as a public health menace which it is. There is so much misinformation and a disconnect between public opinion and science. In March a Wall Street Journal and NBC poll, Americans viewed sugar as more dangerous than marijuana.
When a society cares more about its pleasures than its children, we are in trouble.
Reference: Wall Street Journal, "Legal Pot is a Menace." August 14, 2014
