We have failed you. The voting adults in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have failed in trying to protect the young in our society. We have enacted a law that has decriminalized Marijuana possession for under an ounce. This new law makes Marijuana a civil citation of $100. This equates to a motor vehicle ticket that you can get for breaking a law while driving.
I have had the opportunity to talk with several adults who voted in favor of this law. I have always asked them the question: “How much is an ounce of marijuana?” I have not had anyone give me the correct answer. Most think it is one joint, others say three or four. Most are surprised to find out that depending on how much marijuana is used, an ounce can range from 40-65 joints. An ounce is much more than personal use. Voters were not educated and this vote may have cost the health of young adults.
There is an argument that Marijuana is not a “hard” drug and it impacts the health much less than other “hard” drugs. However, Marijuana does impact a person’s heath to some degree. Please read the excerpt from NIDA – USA.gov (http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/marijuana/Marijuana4.html#addictive)
Health Consequences of Marijuana Abuse
Acute (present during intoxication)
• Impairs short-term memory
• Impairs attention, judgment, and other cognitive functions
• Impairs coordination and balance
• Increases heart rate
Persistent (lasting longer than intoxication, but may not be permanent)
• Impairs memory and learning skills
Long-term (cumulative, potentially permanent effects of chronic abuse)
• Can lead to addiction
• Increases risk of chronic cough, bronchitis, and emphysema
• Increases risk of cancer of the head, neck, and lungs
It is accepted that Marijuana does impact the health of people, so why would we decimalize something that may jeopardize the heath of our young adults?
I also take exception to the mixed message that society is sending to young adults. The drinking age is 21 years old, and if you are under the age of 21, you could be arrested if you are in possession of alcohol. I use this scenario:
If the police respond to a house party with underage drinking, the underage young adults could be subject to arrest. If there is young adult smoking marijuana, he or she is subject to a $100 fine. The young adults who are arrested could have a criminal record for the possession of alcohol. The young adult who is smoking marijuana will not have a criminal record.
I have talked with teachers at Westborough High School and they see an increase in the use of marijuana. Through my own experiences as a school resource officer, I see an increase in marijuana use. I do not think the voters in Massachusetts wanted to see an increase in young adults using marijuana. This law should be thrown out and new legislation should be made to protect young adults and to stop the mixed message that is being sent to them.
I am not trying to make the argument that one drug is worse than another drug. I am trying to show that society should have the best interest in our young adults’ heath and safety. I do not believe that the marijuana law puts the best interest of the children first.
Please stay safe and make good decisions.
Officer Dapolite
Your site is first-class I will have to read it all, thank you for the diversion from my classwork!
I am inclined to disagree with this. The only sense in which the voters have failed is that not 100% of them know the facts and are able to make a reasonable decision on the matter.
First of all, one ounce of cannabis can most certainly be considered for personal consumption. An ounce is comprised of 32 grams. An “eighth” is 3.5 grams. Buying in grams or eighths is significantly more expensive than buying an ounce. It’s just like buying from Costco or Sam’s Club; it’s much more cost efficient to buy in bulk. In no way does this insinuate the user is going to sell it.
In my mind, it makes absolutely no sense to say that by passing this decriminalization law we have failed to put the health and safety of our youth as our first priority. Making alcohol and cigarettes obtainable by any means threw this priority out the window. From my personal experience through high school and being a teenager, it’s much easier to obtain a pack of cigarettes or a bottle of booze from your older sister’s friend than it is to find a bag. No matter how hard to try to stop certain people from using certain things, they are going to find a way around it. To say that any one substance puts youth at risk more than the other is absurd. I had my first drink and my first cigarette long before I tried my first hit.
Also, I have seen many of these health consequences associated with cannabis before. Chronic coughing, bronchitis, emphysema, and cancer are all adverse effects on health caused by smoking cigarettes (www.cdc.gov). Cognitive impairment as well as impaired coordination and balance are all adverse effects of drinking alcohol, not to mention the list of diseases that are associated with it (www.cdc.gov). When it comes down to it, abusing any substance can have harmful effects on your body. The most harmful part of smoking cannabis is inhaling the byproducts of combustion. Inhaling cannabis vapor eliminates almost all of these health consequences.
What it boils down to is that using cannabis is no different, in a moral sense, than smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol. It’s the same, if not less harmful, than using any other substance that is currently Scheduled under U.S. law. Maintaining the health and safety of our country’s youth does not lie in the hands of the voter, but in the responsibility of their own parents. What is the difference between a middle aged man smoking a joint or drinking a glass of wine? It all comes down to personal responsibility. Children should not have access to these things in any circumstance; this law is merely protecting the responsible users from unrepresented legal action that could change their life.