Why the Catholic Church is Leading Fighting Against Legal Marijuana in Massachusetts

[Randolph]

Prohibition was a failure, but so is the prohibition of pot.

People become addicts despite marijuana being illegal.

The idea that it’s a gateway drug is irrational. Most drug addicts started out drinking before they tried pot.

Is alcohol a gateway drug ?

Fact is, the one’s who strongly oppose the legalization of pot are the drug cartels and dealers.

They’re the one’s will suffer the most.

I’m not an advocate of people smoking pot, just as I’m not an advocate of drinking alcohol.

However, young people are smoking pot which they buy from drug dealers. The pot they’re buying is often laced with stronger drugs. The dealers are also selling dangerous synthetic pot.

It was the same during prohibition. Bootleggers made bad booze which hurt many people.

Prohibition doesn’t work for people who want to drink or smoke poit.

Jim

Below is a recent article published by the NY Times.:

Title: “Marijuana Has Proven to Be a Gateway Drug”

By Robert L. DuPont

Robert L. DuPont is the president of the Institute for Behavior and Health and the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse–National Institute of Health

Updated April 26, 2016, 3:22 AM

It should come as no surprise that the vast majority of heroin users have used marijuana (and many other drugs) not only long before they used heroin but while they are using heroin. Like nearly all people with substance abuse problems, most heroin users initiated their drug use early in their teens, usually beginning with alcohol and marijuana. There is ample evidence that early initiation of drug use primes the brain for enhanced later responses to other drugs. These facts underscore the need for effective prevention to reduce adolescent use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana in order to turn back the heroin and opioid epidemic and to reduce burdens addiction in this country.

Establishing it as a third legal drug, along with tobacco and alcohol, will increase drug abuse, including the expanding opioid epidemic.

Marijuana use is positively correlated with alcohol use and cigarette use, as well as illegal drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine. This does not mean that everyone who uses marijuana will transition to using heroin or other drugs, but it does mean that people who use marijuana also consume more, not less, legal and illegal drugs than do people who do not use marijuana.

People who are addicted to marijuana are three times more likely to be addicted to heroin.

The legalization of marijuana increases availability of the drug and acceptability of its use. This is bad for public health and safety not only because marijuana use increases the risk of heroin use.

A better drug policy is one that actively discourages marijuana use as well as other recreational drug use, especially for youth. The aggressive commercialization of marijuana that is now rampant and still growing is particularly damaging to the public health because it markets marijuana and an array of increasingly potent products in ever more attractive ways that encourage marijuana use and frequent high-dose THC use.

We are at a crossroads. Legalizing marijuana will have lasting negative effects on future generations. The currently legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, are two of the leading causes of preventable illness and death in the country. Establishing marijuana as a third legal drug will increase the national drug abuse problem, including expanding the opioid epidemic.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Using your rationale that people will do what they will do despite what laws we passed, then what would be the use of laws in a civilized society? To name some:

-.

As far as pot goes, it’s not that they “will,” do it, but that they “are” doing it.

Smoking pot doesn’t hurt anyone other than perhaps the person smoking it.

It’s the difference than laws against murder or theft.

Also, people are far less abusive on pot than on alcohol.

Jim

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Below is a recent article published by the NY Times.:

Title: “Marijuana Has Proven to Be a Gateway Drug”

By Robert L. DuPont

Robert L. DuPont is the president of the Institute for Behavior and Health and the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse–National Institute of Health

Updated April 26, 2016, 3:22 AM

It should come as no surprise that the vast majority of heroin users have used marijuana (and many other drugs) not only long before they used heroin but while they are using heroin. Like nearly all people with substance abuse problems, most heroin users initiated their drug use early in their teens, usually beginning with alcohol and marijuana. There is ample evidence that early initiation of drug use primes the brain for enhanced later responses to other drugs. These facts underscore the need for effective prevention to reduce adolescent use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana in order to turn back the heroin and opioid epidemic and to reduce burdens addiction in this country.

Establishing it as a third legal drug, along with tobacco and alcohol, will increase drug abuse, including the expanding opioid epidemic.

Marijuana use is positively correlated with alcohol use and cigarette use, as well as illegal drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine. This does not mean that everyone who uses marijuana will transition to using heroin or other drugs, but it does mean that people who use marijuana also consume more, not less, legal and illegal drugs than do people who do not use marijuana.

People who are addicted to marijuana are three times more likely to be addicted to heroin.

The legalization of marijuana increases availability of the drug and acceptability of its use. This is bad for public health and safety not only because marijuana use increases the risk of heroin use.

A better drug policy is one that actively discourages marijuana use as well as other recreational drug use, especially for youth. The aggressive commercialization of marijuana that is now rampant and still growing is particularly damaging to the public health because it markets marijuana and an array of increasingly potent products in ever more attractive ways that encourage marijuana use and frequent high-dose THC use.

We are at a crossroads. Legalizing marijuana will have lasting negative effects on future generations. The currently legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, are two of the leading causes of preventable illness and death in the country. Establishing marijuana as a third legal drug will increase the national drug abuse problem, including expanding the opioid epidemic.

It’s not proven and this is merely his opinion.

It’s only a gateway drug in that people who are open to trying drugs will begin with alcohol and pot. Pot does no cause them or lead them to trying other dangerous drugs.

Again, most people who have smoked pot and not gone to heroin or cocaine.

I haven’t smoked pot in 45 years and I never touched heroin or cocaine in my life, nor do I desire to. In fact, none of my friends who I smoked pot with 45 years ago, went to stronger drugs.

It all cases, most people try alcohol before they try pot, so using the author’s logic. alcohol is a gateway drug.

Jim

 

[Randolph]

As far as pot goes, it’s not that they “will,” do it, but that they “are” doing it.

Smoking pot doesn’t hurt anyone other than perhaps the person smoking it.

It’s the difference than laws against murder or theft.

Also, people are far less abusive on pot than on alcohol.

Jim

Title: “Fatal Road Crashes Involving Marijuana Double After State Legalizes Drug”

By Tamra Johnson, AAA Foundation Research

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 10, 2016) – Fatal crashes involving drivers who recently used marijuana doubled in Washington after the state legalized the drug, according to the latest research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. New research also shows that legal limits for marijuana and driving are arbitrary and unsupported by science, which could result in unsafe motorists going free and others being wrongfully convicted for impaired driving. Washington was one of the first two states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, and these findings raise serious concerns about drug-impaired driving with at least 20 states considering marijuana legalization this year.

The Foundation examined drug tests and fatal crashes among drivers in Washington, a state that legalized marijuana in December 2012. The researchers found:
The percentage of drivers involved in fatal crashes who recently used marijuana more than doubled from eight to 17 percent between 2013 and 2014.
One in six drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2014 had recently used marijuana, which is the most recent data available.

“The significant increase in fatal crashes involving marijuana is alarming,” said Peter Kissinger, President and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Washington serves as an eye-opening case study for what other states may experience with road safety after legalizing the drug.”

newsroom.aaa.com/2016/05/fatal-road-crashes-involving-marijuana-double-state-legalizes-drug/

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Title: “Fatal Road Crashes Involving Marijuana Double After State Legalizes Drug”

By Tamra Johnson, AAA Foundation Research

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 10, 2016) – Fatal crashes involving drivers who recently used marijuana doubled in Washington after the state legalized the drug, according to the latest research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. New research also shows that legal limits for marijuana and driving are arbitrary and unsupported by science, which could result in unsafe motorists going free and others being wrongfully convicted for impaired driving. Washington was one of the first two states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, and these findings raise serious concerns about drug-impaired driving with at least 20 states considering marijuana legalization this year.

The Foundation examined drug tests and fatal crashes among drivers in Washington, a state that legalized marijuana in December 2012. The researchers found:
The percentage of drivers involved in fatal crashes who recently used marijuana more than doubled from eight to 17 percent between 2013 and 2014.
One in six drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2014 had recently used marijuana, which is the most recent data available.

“The significant increase in fatal crashes involving marijuana is alarming,” said Peter Kissinger, President and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Washington serves as an eye-opening case study for what other states may experience with road safety after legalizing the drug.”

newsroom.aaa.com/2016/05/fatal-road-crashes-involving-marijuana-double-state-legalizes-drug/

Only because it’s new

Eventually people will treat pot and driving the way the do with alcohol and driving.

Jim

 

[Randolph]

Only because it’s new

Eventually people will treat pot and driving the way the do with alcohol and driving.

Jim

Driving under the influence of marijuana is new?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Driving under the influence of marijuana is new?

No, legalized pot for recreation use is new.

Jim

 

[Randolph]

It’s not proven and this is merely his opinion.

It’s only a gateway drug in that people who are open to trying drugs will begin with alcohol and pot. Pot does no cause them or lead them to trying other dangerous drugs.

Again, most people who have smoked pot and not gone to heroin or cocaine.

I haven’t smoked pot in 45 years and I never touched heroin or cocaine in my life, nor do I desire to. In fact, none of my friends who I smoked pot with 45 years ago, went to stronger drugs.

It all cases, most people try alcohol before they try pot, so using the author’s logic. alcohol is a gateway drug.

Jim

I seriously take the opinions of and facts cited by the Director of National Institute on Drug Abuses–a Director of the National Institute of Health.

"Marijuana use is positively correlated with alcohol use and cigarette use, as well as illegal drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine. This does not mean that everyone who uses marijuana will transition to using heroin or other drugs, but it does mean that people who use marijuana also consume more, not less, legal and illegal drugs than do people who do not use marijuana.

People who are addicted to marijuana are three times more likely to be addicted to heroin.

The legalization of marijuana increases availability of the drug and acceptability of its use. This is bad for public health and safety not only because marijuana use increases the risk of heroin use."

 

[Randolph]

No, legalized pot for recreation use is new.

Jim

No, it does not matter. Traffic deaths/fatalities care not whether the consumption of pots was a result from illegal, legal, or recreational use.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I seriously take the opinions of and facts cited by the Director of National Institute on Drug Abuses–a Director of the National Institute of Health.

"Marijuana use is positively correlated with alcohol use and cigarette use, as well as illegal drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine. This does not mean that everyone who uses marijuana will transition to using heroin or other drugs, but it does mean that people who use marijuana also consume more, not less, legal and illegal drugs than do people who do not use marijuana.

People who are addicted to marijuana are three times more likely to be addicted to heroin.

The legalization of marijuana increases availability of the drug and acceptability of its use. This is bad for public health and safety not only because marijuana use increases the risk of heroin use."

MJ is not addictive in of itself.

The addiction is from the person’s own issues. They’re often addicted to several things including alcohol, gambling or whatever.

Many people have smoked pot and have not become addicted.

MJ is used for medicinal purposes and people are able to stop using it after they recover from their illness.

In all, the main reason MJ has not been legal, is because the government has a hard time controlling the tax on it.

People can grow MJ far easier than they can make homemade alcohol. Alcohol they won’t bother making for the most part, but MJ, if it’s too expensive, they’ll just grow their own, which is relatively easy.

In all, with illegal pot, we have the drug dealers controlling it. They sell to whomever has the money, kids not excluded.

They also lace the pot with opium and other harder substances. hoping the user will eventually want something stronger than put.

If pot becomes legal here in MA, only licensed stores will be able to sell it.

Only people 21 years of age will be able to buy it.

It will be illegal to make edible pot that looks like candy or baked products.

The pot will be regulated to be sure it’s not laced with anything.

Like I said earlier, the one’s that legalizing pot threatens is the drug cartels and pushers on the street corners. They all oppose legalizing MJ

Jim

 

[JimR-OCDS]

No, it does not matter. Traffic deaths/fatalities care not whether the consumption of pots was a result from illegal, legal, or recreational use.

I disagree, it does matter as people will use it without fear when it becomes legal and there will be people trying it. However, that will drop as the newness wears thin.

Currently, people drive while high on pot, especially teenagers under 21.

So, the increase in accidents since pot has become legal in those states, is more coincidental.

Also, they only stat they have is that in the states where pot became legal, accident rates increased.

What they can’t show is whether this is the result of pot being legal or some other factor.

Anyway, Tuesday the voters of Massachessetts will decide if they want pot legalized or not.

My guess is that it will become legal.

Jim

 

[Randolph]

MJ is not addictive in of itself.

The addiction is from the person’s own issues. They’re often addicted to several things including alcohol, gambling or whatever.

Many people have smoked pot and have not become addicted.

MJ is used for medicinal purposes and people are able to stop using it after they recover from their illness.

In all, the main reason MJ has not been legal, is because the government has a hard time controlling the tax on it.

People can grow MJ far easier than they can make homemade alcohol. Alcohol they won’t bother making for the most part, but MJ, if it’s too expensive, they’ll just grow their own, which is relatively easy.

In all, with illegal pot, we have the drug dealers controlling it. They sell to whomever has the money, kids not excluded.

They also lace the pot with opium and other harder substances. hoping the user will eventually want something stronger than put.

If pot becomes legal here in MA, only licensed stores will be able to sell it.

Only people 21 years of age will be able to buy it.

It will be illegal to make edible pot that looks like candy or baked products.

The pot will be regulated to be sure it’s not laced with anything.

Like I said earlier, the one’s that legalizing pot threatens is the drug cartels and pushers on the street corners. They all oppose legalizing MJ

Jim

I do agree with you on the drug dealers’ standing to gain in the current “illegal” environment, the tax issue and appropriate medicinal uses of pots. Clearly, you and I do not see eye to eye on many other things. Thank you for your time and a robust/informative exchange.

 

[Randolph]

I disagree, it does matter as people will use it without fear when it becomes legal and there will be people trying it. However, that will drop as the newness wears thin.

Currently, people drive while high on pot, especially teenagers under 21.

So, the increase in accidents since pot has become legal in those states, is more coincidental.

Also, they only stat they have is that in the states where pot became legal, accident rates increased.

What they can’t show is whether this is the result of pot being legal or some other factor.

Anyway, Tuesday the voters of Massachessetts will decide if they want pot legalized or not.

My guess is that it will become legal.

Jim

To my own dismay, I also think the measure will pass next Tuesday.

 

[Beryllos]

Only people 21 years of age will be able to buy it.

Wrong. Only 21 and older will get it legally, but teens will find a way to get it illegally. Marijuana in our high schools is already a big problem, and this will only make it bigger, primarily by reinforcing the teen’s perception that it is harmless fun (otherwise it wouldn’t be legal, right?), and secondly because of easier access.

 

[Beryllos]

To my own dismay, I also think the measure will pass next Tuesday.

Yeah. What’s Plan B for this eventuality?

 

[Latias]

Using your rationale that people will do what they will do despite what laws we passed, then what would be the use of laws in a civilized society? To name some:

–Why stop at legalization of marijuana? Let’s legalize all drugs:: Cocaine, LSD, opium, cracks, heroin, meth., etc…
–People raped others in the past and will in the future despite of laws: Why not also legalize it?
–Same go for murders, child trafficking, kidnapping, racism, pedophilia, polygamy, corruption, etc… People will break the laws anyway…

What would a civilized society be without laws to protect people from others and from themselves? The opinions/votes of the majority do not mean just and correct all the times. Pope Benedict once spoke of this as the “tyranny of the majority”.

I would rather have a tyranny of the majority over having someone like Franco or Pinochet in power.

–

Do you think that we should criminally punish people for using or possessing a recreational drug. Marijuana doesn’t harm people in the way that heroin and methamphetamine does.

Perhaps for marijuana there is a hard line, much like many pro-choicers do not advocate infanticide due to that cold line of birth. Alcohol is more addictive and dangerous than marijuana, but for whatever reasoning, drinking four shots of whiskey at a bar is socially acceptable among contemporary conservatives than smoking marijuana in a basement. (In Ken Burns Prohibition, I remember that most people who supported prohibition said it was prohibition for other people, not themselves; stoners in a basement as bad, while high-functioning alcoholic executives are acceptable.)

A gross positive effect of the legalization of marijuana is that it deprives drug cartels of some of their profit and reduces the notoriety of trafficking the drug (since criminals are not solely motivated by profit, but some want to be feared). At least there would be fewer murders over marijuana in order to control trafficking routes.

Perhaps the clinical restrictions on opium prescribing has fueled the rise in heroin usage.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Wrong. Only 21 and older will get it legally, but teens will find a way to get it illegally. Marijuana in our high schools is already a big problem, and this will only make it bigger, primarily by reinforcing the teen’s perception that it is harmless fun (otherwise it wouldn’t be legal, right?), and secondly because of easier access.

Only those 21 will be able to buy it legally.

As it is, those under 21 are buying pot now, only at a higher rate because they’re buying it from drug dealers who will sell if to them along with other drugs the dealers try to get them hooked on.

If pot becomes legal, licensed stores will be where people who are 21 will be able to but it, and the drug dealers will be margenalized.

Sure, those under 21 will still buy pot, just as they buy alcohol, but it’s more difficult.

Jim

 

[OriginalJS]

I have non-“native English speaker” friends who would agree that this artciles WAS so badly written. In the meantime, many “native English speaker” friends of mine would say: “IT’S LIKE…why would it matter whether the writer is native or non-native?”

Respectfully, a badly written article was just simply badly written. Don’t automatically and incorrectly assumed that it was written by a non “native English speaker”, or by someone who is very high." Think about the comparison for non-native English speaker writers…

… Or did I miss your joke?

Because poor grammar and usage detract from the message. This is true whether in written or spoken form.

 

[FollowChrist34]

Maybe people would take our church more seriously if we fought against issues that matter instead of a plant.

The day we start worrying about “people” taking our church more seriously is the day we stop taking God seriously, or our church with respect to Him.

 

[jeannetherese]

Smoking pot doesn’t hurt anyone other than perhaps the person smoking it.
Jim

I’m not so sure about this.
In Washington, pot smoking is up and so are correlated automobile accidents.
Children neglected by parents who are stoned, are hurt by neglect-perhaps less time spent helping with homework, offering attention, providing for nutrition/excercise needs.
I think we might agree that neglect might be harmful.
Pot smoking is not good for the lungs. As taxpayers we are being asked to put more medical resources into enabling hrtful behaviors or for helping those continue or develop such behaviors.
Marijuana is being linked to challenges for those whose brains are developing-perhaps this will play out in decreased productivity over the years.
What mommies consume, their babies in the womb consume. Does smoking pot help or harm these babies?