Pubdate: Tue, 24 Nov 2015
Source: Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, NJ)
Copyright: 2015 Courier-Post
Contact:  http://www.courierpostonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/826
Author: Diane Litterer
Note: Diane Litterer is CEO and executive director of the New Jersey 
Prevention Network.

LEGAL MARIJUANA NOT THE ANSWER

Currently, New Jersey leaders are considering legalizing the sale and 
possession of marijuana in addition to permitting the cultivation of 
marijuana in a person's home.

The lessons being learned in Colorado make it clear that legalizing 
marijuana is a dangerous proposal that will negatively affect the 
health and wellness of New Jersey residents. Legalization of medical 
and recreational marijuana has caused youth to develop low 
perceptions of risk towards marijuana use. This is being exacerbated 
by the changing social acceptance and increased visibility and 
availability through open use by adults and older peers. States like 
Colorado, which have legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana 
use, have the highest rates of youth and adult marijuana use in the nation.

When we hear reports that many New Jersey residents favor 
legalization, that does not take into account that most people only 
want to be sure that youth do not receive a criminal record for 
simple possession. Decriminalization is that solution - not 
legalization. Decriminalization will allow New Jersey to formalize 
the process for possession cases and require that youth in possession 
of marijuana be sent for education or treatment options in order to 
deter future use rather than being arrested.

Pro-marijuana groups are dodging any form of decriminalization and 
package the only solution to be legalization of marijuana, which 
would open an industry that will promote a dangerous addictive drug 
to our youth and our most vulnerable populations.

The public has been told that marijuana is a mellow, nonthreatening 
substance that is essentially harmless to individuals and 
communities. Scientific evidence, however, has proven this perception 
to be untrue. Marijuana actually slows the user's reaction time; 
hinders short-term memory; and impairs hand-eye coordination, 
concentration, and the perception of time and distance. This effect 
propels devastating consequences.

Drivers who test positive for marijuana are two times as likely to be 
involved in a car accident. In Colorado, there was a 32 percent 
increase in marijuana-related traffic deaths from 2013 to 2014. 
Science has also shown that marijuana use under the age of 25, when 
the frontal cortex is still developing, has long-term and permanent 
negative impacts on a youth's developing brain - causing changes in 
brain anatomy as well as impairing motivation, attention, learning 
and memory. The addiction rate for youth marijuana users is one in 
six. For adults, it's one in 10.

Marijuana is not a harmless substance. The tetrahydrocannabinol 
levels in marijuana are three times higher than they were in 1983 and 
the potency levels of marijuana derivatives and edibles can have up 
to 80 to 90 percent THC. Colorado has also seen an increase in 
marijuana-related emergency room visits, treatment admissions and 
youth poisonings due to marijuana intoxication from popular edibles 
like marijuana cookies, brownies, candies and lollipops. These edible 
products, along with traditional forms of marijuana, are being 
marketed in a manner that mirrors the false advertising of Big 
Tobacco, which markets tobacco and electronic cigarettes to our youth 
and adults as a harmless product.

Evidence of the growing Big Marijuana market can currently be seen in 
New Jersey. This market proficiently taps into the rising vape shop 
retail popularity that is sprouting statewide, marketing and selling 
delivery systems that are proving to be attractive and available to 
youth and adults for not only nicotine but also marijuana use.

We encourage both lawmakers and communities to consider the 
scientific research and lessons learned from Colorado and protect our 
youth and communities from the damaging effects of legalization. When 
taking the risks and negative impacts of legalization into account, 
it is clear that the legalization of marijuana is not the solution to 
help communities in New Jersey.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom