Will legalization of marijuana save the U.S. economy?
The band wagon is overloaded with politicians and people that actually believe legalizing recreational marijuana is the answer to poverty, the golden ticket to funding education, and the Holy Grail of government woes. How about growing and selling pot to bankroll the Social Security, social programs, and healthcare? We can pay off our zillion dollar national deficit with sales from the wacky weed. Shazam! Pot parades for saving the planet. Instead of politicians promising “A Chicken in Every Pot,” there will be “Cannabis in Every Airtight Container,” or “Pot in Every Pot.”
“The legalization of cannabis has significant implications for state economies, as well as the national economy. The industry totaled more than $8 billion in sales in 2017, with sales estimated to reach $11 billion this year and $23 billion by 2022. There were more than 9,000 active licenses for cannabis businesses in the U.S. in 2017, with the industry employing more than 120,000 people.” Visit www.jec.senate.gov.
Instead of holiday fruitcake, the stores will sell merry marijuana brownies, pumpkin pot pie, and cannabis flavored eggnog. Hide the cannabis candy canes and stoner snacks from the kids. And no cannabis-infused cookies for grandma. But try the new reefer recipes for Christmas dinner.
What are the signs of the negative effects of marijuana edibles? Psychotic episodes, hallucinations, paranoia, panic attacks, and impaired motor ability. Visit www.justthinktwice.gov.
Will parents use grocery money to buy weed instead of food? What will consumers give up to consume weed? Will teens have easier access? Spend your cash on a cannabis stash—it’s the America way. But please make a bud budget. And don’t forget to store some cannabis in your tornado shelter, but check the heat and humanity to protect the precious pot from mold and mildew.
“What about the costs, and is there anything that we can learn from other states that have legalized marijuana? Lessons learned in Colorado and other states that have adopted this policy suggest there will also be both economic and social costs. The common lessons learned include an increase in the heavy use of marijuana and dependence, decline in academic outcomes for college students, and the increase in cannabis-related driving accidents.” Read more at www.news.camden.rutgers.edu.
Instead of Mothers Against Drunk Drinking (MADD), we’ll have Mothers Against High Driving. Parents do not want their kids to be members of the School Stoner’s Club or the Lack of Motivation League. “My kid dropped out of college to smoke weed all day. I’m so proud.”
Will magical marijuana save humanity from physical pain? Well, not save, but temporary dull it. Will the supply and demand of medical marijuana make mega millionaires? It’s good to make a profit from people’s pain. Right?
Tobacco cigarettes and marijuana—humans continue to seek mood-altering chemicals to sooth the brain and escape reality. Humans chase the buzz— whatever their buzz of choice may be. Let’s get high, spaced out, goofy. It’s instant gratification. And addiction requires money and time. Look into the future and what will you see? Lung cancer—death by weed addiction. Think twice before smoking your vice. The crystal ball predicts a long list of stoners waiting for lung transplants. The push for cannabis legalization has been coined “big tobacco 2.0” which makes sense for people using common sense.
The American Psychiatric Association position statement on marijuana as medicine states: “There is no current scientific evidence that marijuana is in any way beneficial for the treatment of any psychiatric disorder. In contrast, current evidence supports, at minimum, a strong association of cannabis use with the onset of psychiatric disorders. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to harm, given the effects of cannabis on neurological development.” So, will legalization of marijuana increase healthcare costs?
Why can’t humans tolerate mood changes and a range of feelings. Happy is a feeling—not a state of being. Chasing the “happy train” is futile. You will never catch it. Fueling your purpose with passion is the spice of life—not marijuana.
Many states are chasing a pot pipe dream. Will legalization of marijuana save the U.S. economy? Of course not. The bigger the boost—the bigger the boom from the fallout.
Oh, did you hear? Wille Nelson give up weed due to health concerns.
Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author, columnist, educator, and therapist. She lives in Southern Ohio. Contact her at melissamcolumnist@gmail.com.
Dr. Martin,
I know you are against Marijuana on a personal level. However, if you’re going to cite a study you should ethically include the basis for that study and the quality of said study. Perhaps the section that specifically states,
“ The study did not find compelling evidence for using any type of marijuana for mental health treatment. The authors noted the studies reviewed were small and low-quality.”
In other words, your cited study, is “doctor” lingo for “we don’t know, because we haven’t studied it to any legitimate depth”
However, there are many studies indicating it assists in physical ailments and multiple testimonials contributing to its assistance with mental health. Perhaps we should review depression medication side effects here as well and list why people shouldn’t use those. You know, like depression medication that literally causes worse depression and suicidal and homicidal tendencies?
I’m not advocating that Marijuana is right for everyone the same way I wouldn’t advocate that depression medication is right for everyone. Nor am I advocating that children should use it. I’m simply advocating that it is nobody’s business how someone wishes to treat their ailments and articles like this, using portions of studies to support an already established conclusion are not helping nor are they valid.
If we continue to ban weed, let us ban alcohol as well. This won’t happen, of course, because the politicians like their alcohol.
Our youth may have more access to pot, but I’d rather them use pot than meth. It just might slow down the drug epidemic. They sure seem to have plenty of access to meth and other drugs that are far worse than marijuana.
Their is no question about marijuana being a good medical option for some. Don’t deny them some relief. If you were in their situation, you would quickly change your mind.
I have never used pot and never will unless it’s for medical purposes. I don’t drink either, although I have considered drinking wine for health benefits.
you would have to change the constitution to ban alcohol
good luck
That would be WRONG KAG! All it takes to ‘appear’ to ban alcohol is a local option wet/dry election. However does that stop the sale of alcohol, did a constitutional amendment stop it? NO. When there is something people want, there will always people who will provide it. Marijuana is no different, ban all you want, and a supply will still exist. The Great Dr. Martin has not the slightest clue what she talks about, kinda like you.
Also, those that would deny their children and buy pot instead, are the very ones that currently deny their children for alcohol, cigarettes, and/or drugs.
The few I know that use pot are actually responsible people.
There is no reason for the continued illegality of Marijuana. Has anyone ever noticed that all the negatives to Marijuana are items which could easily be attributed to other social constructs. In this article, one cited area is that the decrease in academic performance of college students is due to Marijuana use. This is a fact that cannot be attributed Marijuana because there are so many confounding factors which is why it should be highlighted the studies used herein are in simple terms “junk science”. Dr. Martin is using half baked studies to support a conclusion she already drew.
well I will agree with her about old man willy since he is 86 tears old
For the record, Willie Nelson did NOT quit using cannabis. He quit SMOKING it because he felt it was bad for his lungs but now he is using edibles, tinctures, vapes and so forth.
What are the signs of the negative effects of marijuana edibles? Psychotic episodes, hallucinations, paranoia, panic attacks, and impaired motor ability. Visit http://www.justthinktwice.gov. This is reefer madness at its worst. Who knows anyone that has went crazy from using marijuana. Millions of people worldwide use it daily and there’s not an epidemic like you speak of here in your article. Alcohol, prescription drugs and tobacco products are far more deadly and addictive. No one smokes pot and goes crazy, lol. So sick and tired of the bs. Get real and look around.
Willie gave up smoking it, not consuming it. Plus he’s in his eighties. God, what a joke. Get real doc. You have a PhD? I’m beginning to wonder.
I believe a PhD means you just went to college for a long time
Some people are book smart, but their common sense is skewed and they can’t change a flat tire, lol.
Exactly. Just because someone has a PhD, that doesn’t mean that they have common sense.
That is true in some cases, but not all, some few have both, Dr. Franklin is a fine example