Don't Legalize ... A Colorado Perspective

National media to social media has focused on the top of the ticket. However, thanks to the checks and balances of our federal government, I'm not convinced that my daily life will change much based on who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

But, let me tell you about one vote that has changed my work, my neighborhood, and my family ... that is the legalization of marijuana.

I never tell people how to vote; I just want people to be informed before they vote.

Four states are voting in November to legalize recreational marijuana (California, Arizona, Maine, and Massachusetts). You've watched the Colorado experiment closely and cited our research to support both sides of the issue ... but let me share my experience.

If my experience in Colorado is any indication, here are 10 things that will change when/if you legalize marijuana ...

1. Skunk families will move into every neighborhood.

You'd be surprised how many Coloradans believe this to be true; soon, they realize that the smell isn't from skunks. While this is a humorous start to the list, it does impact daily life: on countless occasions, I have had to close windows on a beautiful summer night because of the "skunk" smell coming from my neighbors, especially if you have kids and are concerned about second hand smoke.

2. Teen marijuana usage will increase ... even though the legal age is 21.

• Colorado now leads the nation in teen marijuana usage (http://www.denverpost.com/2015/12/17/fed-study-says-pot-use-by-youth-on-rise-in-colorado-leads-nation/). Btw, we don't lead the nation in test scores (Colorado ACT and SAT scores are below national average).
• Pre-legalization, 1 in 15 teens in Colorado tried marijuana recreationally, now it is 1 in 5.
• Teen marijuana use is 74% higher than the national average.
• Research is still out on the "gateway" drug effect, but it wouldn't surprise me if Colorado sees a spike in Heroin/Opioid addiction in five years due to the gateway effect.

3. Marijuana will negatively impact your high school.

It is amazing how accessible marijuana is for those underage. Students using marijuana are less motivated, less focused, and more inclined to drop out and give up ... these factors work against the factors that we know contribute to student success (curiosity, grit, hope).

• Middle and High School marijuana-related discipline problems have increased.
• http://www.denverpost.com/2013/11/11/pot-problems-in-colorado-schools-increase-with-legalization/ 

4. More college students will use marijuana.

Our future leaders are getting dumb and dumber ... A nicer way to say this is that brain development will diminish, but no matter how you say it, marijuana negatively impacts intelligence. The brain is still in optimal growth through age 25, and the impact of marijuana on the brain (especially on the teenage brain) is detrimental and permanent.

• Colorado college-age group now rank number one in the nation for marijuana use and 62% higher than the national average.
• http://denver.cbslocal.com/2016/08/31/studies-show-results-of-legal-pot-in-colorado/
• Marijuana usage has short and long term effects on the brain, especially for teens.
• https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana

5. State population will increase.

Colorado has seen a population surge with over 100,000 people moving to the state in the last 2 years (http://www.denverpost.com/2016/07/07/colorado-second-population-growth-2015/). Not all is attributed to the "marijuana migrants," after all Colorado is a beautiful state, but the marijuana impact can be felt. An increase in population can be positive; however, only if those moving into the state are positive contributors to the community. Of course an increase in population impacts housing ...

• Housing shortage ... definitely an owner/landowner market is driving the rental and housing market up.  http://www.denverpost.com/2016/05/19/colorado-population-growth-far-outstripped-new-housing-census-says/
• Housing prices soar, making home ownership inaccessible for many. https://newrepublic.com/article/123084/green-rush-and-denvers-housing-crisis
• Unfortunately, a number of young Colorado families or individuals just beginning their career are not able to afford to live in Colorado and are moving out.

6. Economy will grow ... at least some industries. 

• Of course, marijuana-related industries will grow, and any increase in population, if managed properly, will help the economy. The industries that will grow include drug counseling, rehab centers, poison control, emergency rooms, and hospitals.
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/02/12/colorados-legal-weed-market-700-million-in-sales-last-year-1-billion-by-2016/
• http://denver.cbslocal.com/2016/08/31/studies-show-results-of-legal-pot-in-colorado/
• Some industries will also move out of the state ... some due to the increased cost of living and some due to the negative effect of employees who use marijuana.

7. Marijuana-related medical emergencies will increase ... including ER visits, traffic accidents, calls to poison control centers, and hospitalization.

• Marijuana traffic deaths increased by 48%, and over 20% of all traffic deaths were marijuana related compared to only 10% six years ago.
• Marijuana-related hospitalizations increased 32%.
• Marijuana-related calls to the Rocky Mountain Poison Center increased 100%.
• Marijuana-related ER visits increased 49% (110,000 teen marijuana related ER visits in 2014).
• http://fortune.com/pot-marijuana-colorado/
• http://denver.cbslocal.com/2016/08/31/studies-show-results-of-legal-pot-in-colorado/

8. The homeless population will increase.

• Increase of 10,000 homeless from 2014-2015
• This is due to the housing/rental market, to "marijuana migrants," and to those who have lost jobs due to usage/addiction.
• http://www.ibtimes.com/marijuana-legalization-colorado-how-recreational-weed-attracting-people-spiking-2374204

9. The edibles industry will be out of control (and you will realize that this is an extra evil element of this industry).

• Edible marijuana has been largely unregulated so the product is made to look like candy (gummy bears, peach rings, cookies, chocolates) without marking on the product itself indicating that it is marijuana. This is unscrupulous marketing to kids and a messaging that this is harmless.

 

10. You will be impacted personally.

If you do not have to deal with a teenage son or daughter negatively impacted by marijuana, you will know someone going through this. If you work in middle and high schools, you will discipline/expel students for marijuana usage and experience a decrease in student focus, motivation, and overall interest in life.

I encourage you to watch this program before you vote ... "Insight -- Marijuana in Colorado: The State of High" (http://www.rmpbs.org/insight/).


You may doubt me ... but let's chat after a year. Maybe things will be different in your state.

Many of Colorado's problems have been self-inflicted as we passed the law without thinking about regulating the industry, and I'm sure that other states will learn from our mistakes. You're Welcome!

I'm not telling you how to vote ... just telling you my experience.

After a year, I'll repost and we can see how many of these 10 have come true in your state.