cannabisnews.com: Legalizing Marijuana is a Misguided Solution
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Legalizing Marijuana is a Misguided Solution
Posted by CN Staff on April 04, 2010 at 05:37:32 PT
By Clark Williams, Special To The Mercury News
Source: San Jose Mercury News
California -- Proponents of the decriminalization of marijuana have succeeded in placing the "Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010" on the November ballot. If passed by voters, people 21 and older would be permitted to possess, grow and transport marijuana, and local governments would be allowed to regulate and tax its sale and production. As a social worker and public health advocate who has dedicated his life's work to the prevention and treatment of the problems associated with substance use and addiction, I have seen too many suffering individuals, broken families and neglected communities shattered by drug use to remain silent on the anticipated negative consequences of this ballot measure.
The health care community has long been debating the appropriate medical use of marijuana for people suffering from severe and chronic health conditions. With passage of the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, medical marijuana dispensaries are popping up in neighborhoods, and local government officials are struggling with how to provide medicinal access to marijuana while protecting cities' quality of life. In my view, the legalization of marijuana would make matters worse.Legalization will likely lead to more use of marijuana and other illicit drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines and heroin, especially among young people. This would bring a deepening of the societal problems associated with substance use and addiction: the unfair application and prosecution of drug laws, increased poverty and social inequality in communities of color, high unemployment, increased traffic crimes, homelessness and poor health.Our state's leading law enforcement and criminal justice organizations are expected to join with many nonprofit organizations, social advocacy groups, faith-based organizations, and state and local elected officials in opposing this ballot measure. Proponents may argue that marijuana is ostensibly a safe drug and that criminalization is harsh and unnecessary. But after many years of counseling and treating individuals and families coping with substance use and addiction, I have found that marijuana is anything but benign. Most diagnostic, epidemiological, clinical and laboratory studies indicate that marijuana dependence exists, causes real harm, and can lead to further substance use and addiction. A number of studies have shown a clear relationship between marijuana use and severe symptoms of mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression and suicidal tendency. Well-meaning proponents claim that legalization could save millions of tax dollars spent on unnecessary and unfair enforcement of laws, and that regulating the drug will generate new revenue for state and local governments. But it is hardly a panacea for budget deficits, since easier access to marijuana will only exacerbate the costly societal problems associated with it.Some of the arguments for legalization seem reasonable. But after weighing the potential costs, benefits and consequences, I believe that giving up on solving the core causes of substance use and addiction sends a hopeless message to the millions of California individuals, families and communities struggling to overcome the devastating impacts of substance use. Please join me in opposing the November initiative.Clark Williams is the 2010 Social Worker of the Year for Santa Clara County. He wrote this article for this newspaper.Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)Author: Clark Williams, Special To The Mercury NewsPublished: April 3, 2010Copyright: 2010 San Jose Mercury NewsContact: letters mercurynews.comWebsite: http://www.mercurynews.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/LbKPGDLJCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #10 posted by tommyu on April 05, 2010 at 12:31:56 PT:
not a gateway!!!
The author states - "Legalization will likely lead to more use of marijuana and other illicit drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines and heroin". COME ON NOW!!! A JOKE RIGHT???If I buy my marijuana illegally in some back-alley out on the street, sure, I'm more likely to come across some of the more-illicit drugs mentioned above because of the shady dealer I'm associating with. But if I purchase my pot legally at a regulated spot, like a CVS Drug Store, I'm more likey not to come across the above-mentioned more illicit hard drugs. Even an idiot knows that!!! I've never even tried any of the above-mentioned illicit drugs, and I've been using grass for almost 35yrs.So the author's statement that legalization will lead to more use of other illicit drugs is totally false.All I want is my weed, the safer alternative to BigPharma, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Caffiene. Support the "Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010" and tell your friends too...
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Comment #9 posted by rchandar on April 05, 2010 at 06:07:25 PT:
A True Story Experienced By Someone
Arresting Officer, Alabama: You're under arrest for possession of marijuana.Driver: I'm sorry. I know I've been messing up a lot.Officer: Statutes say that you could go to jail for two years. But I know you're a good guy, maybe even you will straighten out your life.There was hunger in that jail. He was beaten.But, he is a "good guy" who "will straighten himself out."Kapito?
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Comment #8 posted by rchandar on April 05, 2010 at 06:03:19 PT:
Dependence
Talking about dependence is one thing and punishment is clearly another. Science is not invincible, and we should not bow our heads for the beating that this man appears to think necessary.A lot of meds, civil servants, and so on, make very convincing argument that they "care about people". Yes, so long as you can wash your hands at the end of the day, it's very plausible. Addicted, yes? There are plenty of people who fit this description: they smoke habitually and enjoy smoking, to the point at which they want to have it daily. But the argument is pure bulls #t. Folks, listen. ALL of the psychological and psychiatric problems caused by marijuana "addiction" are due to one controlling factor, and one alone: because MARIJUANA IS ILLEGAL AND YOU CAN GO TO JAIL FOR USING IT. I wish these social workers and meds would just F #K OFF with their vision of things. Yes, a person who is intoxicated regularly on MJ can have auditory hallucinations that drive them up the wall. They can suffer from depression, and have paranoid delusions. All of this private terror is due to illegality, the closely nurtured feeling that the person is unacceptable, will be sacrificed to the system, is dependent upon powerful forces that could cut the strings at any time. I can guarantee that legalization will bring sanity to these people's lives: they will not have to live in fear and disenfranchisement.Pretending to care is different from actually caring. Simple.--rchandar
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Comment #7 posted by Had Enough on April 04, 2010 at 21:31:54 PT
Re: #6
“”Huh. Seems kinda, I dunno ... disingenuous on your part. Or ignorant. Or stupid.””With all due resects...Which you are due many I might add.None of the above...He is a lying prohibitionist whose livelihood depends on the results of caging people for using the Creators/Great Spirit/God given herbs...And he knows exactly what he is trying to propagate...Afterall...Clark is...”The 2010 Social Worker of the Year for Santa Clara County”...His credentials/resume speaks for itself...
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Comment #6 posted by Universer on April 04, 2010 at 20:54:22 PT
Had it with the intellectual lightweights
"Legalization will likely lead to more use of marijuana and other illicit drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines and heroin, especially among young people."Gee golly, Clark -- it took you til paragraph 5 to break out the "gateway hypothesis" and the "won't someone please think of the children?"?And you contend that cities seek to protect their quality of life amid this scourge of medicinal cannabis and its seedy dispensaries? Because, I mean, whenever I see a bar in a downtown neighborhood, my first thought is about how that neighborhood has obviously gone straight to hell. Because they sell BOOZE there.So, Clarky ... where's your editorial decrying the legality and easy access of alcohol? Surely you're not ignorant of the horrific family-destroying life-ending consequences of that cheap Super Bowl-subsidizing poison?No?Huh. Seems kinda, I dunno ... disingenuous on your part. Or ignorant. Or stupid.But what do I know? I'm just a silly little pothead.I mean, if MY paycheck depended in part on there being persons who are afflicted with addiction disorders, well, gee golly ... I might see a whole lot of things as being dangerous and addictive too.You're so darn smart, Clark. Really.
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Comment #5 posted by Cheebs1 on April 04, 2010 at 16:38:03 PT:
This Explains It
So this is the reason that this guy was such a penis this year. It totally makes sense now.http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hEc5ag0sLr3zkN1r9fsStPl2KHswD9ESCS000Had to make a name for himself.
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Comment #4 posted by runruff on April 04, 2010 at 09:56:06 PT
I too belong!
I am a member of a faith based organization and we oppose all forms of medieval thinking. We oppose medieval religions with faith based leaders that condemn anyone unlike themselves either in appearance or otherwise personal unobtrusive behaviours. We oppose religious leaders who are obviously obese from sucking up the offerings at the congregational trough.We oppose anyone who make their living pretending people have a problem so they can get paid to "help" them.We oppose organized christian groups that believe in caging Gods people for indulging in his promises.We oppose laws obviously written by corporate blood suckers that are enforced by our tax dollars.I am the only living member of my organization.
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on April 04, 2010 at 08:36:29 PT
Easter and cannabis / plant / kaneh bosm
"""Our state's... faith-based organizations... are expected to join with opposing this ballot measure. It's interesting to read things like that on Easter and holidays like this.Easter and caging humans using the plant cannabis keeps on going and going and going.So what is the real mission of "faith-based organizations?"I'd like to state My position. Faith-based organizations, like law enforcement agencies and their unions are protecting their jobs! Faith-based organizations are usually college grads and need to keep employed just the same. Cannabis helps lead people to obey My Father and love one another which leads to the "spirit of truth" which "teaches all things." -THEN WE DON'T NEED faith-based organizations. Can't have that.-see John 14-16 and 1 John. It's Easter, go ahead.http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14&version=NASB
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15&version=NASB
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16&version=NASBhttp://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1&version=NASB for 1 John 2,3,4 and 5 cont.
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Comment #2 posted by John Tyler on April 04, 2010 at 08:11:40 PT
not misguided
I have a lot of respect for this guy dedicating his life to Social Work an all. I was a social worker many too so I can kind of see where he is coming from. However, on the subject of cannabis legalization I think he is wrong. Spending so much time experiencing life on the lower socio-economic scale colors one’s perception. There are so many problems to sort out, like poverty, lack of employment opportunities, alcoholism, mental health issues, homelessness, lack of educational opportunities, teenage pregnancy, medical care, it just goes on and on, and then to say that cannabis legalization will make things worse is shorted sighted. Cannabis is already widely available there. Anybody who wants it can get it. Legalization well just take the crime part out of the equation.
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Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on April 04, 2010 at 07:34:13 PT
Clark Williams wrote this article for his own job
protection!"Legalization will likely lead to more use of marijuana and other illicit drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines and heroin, especially among young people."Evidence does not bear this out!"A number of studies have shown a clear relationship between marijuana use and severe symptoms of mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression and suicidal tendency."Which stuties? Can you quote them? I don't think so.
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