I see that alcohol-related incidents are up at UC Berkeley.
Yet The Daily Californian published an op-ed on Aug. 20, called “Marijuana ban would protect youth, families,” admonishing the use of marijuana, not alcohol, which is arguably the more harmful drug. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that more than 37,000 annual U.S. deaths, including almost 10,000 in California, are attributed to alcohol use. On the other hand, the CDC does not even have a category for deaths caused by the use of marijuana.
The vast majority of adults who use marijuana don’t develop an addiction or move on to harder drugs. The latest research on cannabis and schizophrenia runs contrary to mainstream media hype, and the author’s assertions about marijuana and pregnancy are without basis.
Certainly, marijuana can be abused, and caution is necessary when indulging in it, especially in the form of edibles. When I traveled to Amsterdam, I was given an informational pamphlet at my hotel with principles of safe cannabis use. In a world of legalization and regulation, this would be commonplace.
A long-term epidemiological study from UCLA found that cannabis is not related to lung cancer. Still, vaporizing it is more healthy than smoking, since carcinogens are contained in the plant matter that is burned when smoking.
Softening laws doesn’t lead to more underage use. In California and other states that have passed medical marijuana laws, teen marijuana use is down. Similarly in the Netherlands, marijuana use and hard drug use is lower among teens than it is in the U.S.
California NORML doesn’t condone underage use or driving under the influence. I recommend anyone with iPhones download the Alertometer application to test your ability to drive, whether you’re using marijuana, alcohol or prescription drugs. Workplace drug testing has been shown not to improve workplace safety.
California NORML estimates that legalizing marijuana for adult use would bring in $1.2 billion yearly in sales taxes, with ancillary benefits of $12 billion to $18 billion. Drug cartels don’t pay taxes, and they don’t ID for underage users.
I see that UC policy prohibits student drinking that impairs “work performance, scholarly activities, or student life.” A similar policy around marijuana, instead of the criminal status it now has, would be more sane and just. As it stands, students are subject to arrest, jeopardizing student loans, future employment and more because of marijuana use.
California NORML is fighting to change that.
— Ellen Komp, deputy director at California NORML
Contact the opinion desk at [email protected]
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