Pubdate: Sat, 13 Feb 2016
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2016 The Arizona Republic
Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Authors: Seth Leibsohn and Sheila Polk

INFORMATION AGAINST LEGALIZING MARIJUANA NOT 'QUESTIONABLE'

Not surprisingly, EJ Montini was noticeably vauge in his recent op-ed 
("Blowing marijuana smoke ...," Feb. 10) accusing Arizonans for 
Responsible Drug Policy of using "questionable" information in its 
arguments against legalizing marijuana. Nothing could be further from 
the truth. Consider the following:

- -- Since Colorado legalized marijuana, teen use has risen 
dramatically and is now 74 percent higher than the national average. 
(2015 SAMHSA report/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

- -- Since legalization, Colorado has seen an increase in 
marijuana-related traffic fatalities, hospitalization and emergency 
visits, as well as marijuana-related calls to poison control centers. 
(Rocky Mountain HIDTA)

- -- Today's marijuana is a harmful, psychoactive, addictive substance 
that is much more potent than ever before -- at least five times more 
powerful than the marijuana of the 1970s. (National Institute of Drug Abuse)

- -- The American College of Pediatricians reported grave risks for 
youth: "Marijuana is addicting, has adverse effects upon the 
adolescent brain, is a risk for both cardio-respiratory disease and 
testicular cancer, and is associated with both psychiatric illness 
and negative social outcomes." (ACEP/September 2015)

- -- As the U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado reported last 
week, illicit or black market activity in Colorado has not subsided 
since legalization and, in fact, has increased. (AP, January 28, 2016)

Government regulatory statistical agencies as well as peer-reviewed 
medical journals are hardly "questionable."

- - Seth Leibsohn, chair; and Sheila Polk, vice-chair Arizonans for 
Responsible Drug Policy
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom