The Virginia General Assembly has reached a standstill on the question of legalizing recreational cannabis and establishing a framework for retail sales. While many believe that this is a step toward progress and an opportunity to generate tax revenue, I firmly believe that the commonwealth should reject these efforts that will only put more Virginians at risk.
Marijuana is not a harmless substance. It is associated with numerous risks, including mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis — particularly in teens and young adults. Consistent use of cannabis can impair cognitive development and increase the risk of addiction, which is why medicinal marijuana is carefully dosed and monitored under supervision to ensure its benefits outweigh the risks for individual patients.
Recreational cannabis, on the other hand, is used for non-medical purposes with little to no regulation on consumption. This difference cannot be understated.
Investigative journalism highlighted by Cardinal News revealed the chaos already taking place in Virginia’s gray cannabis market. Right now, unless you are a licensed medical marijuana dispensary, it is illegal for you to sell cannabis products. Despite this, unregulated and mislabeled products are being sold under the guise of “hemp” far exceeding the legal limits of THC levels.
This situation is something our communities know all too well — shops popping up on every corner selling mislabeled or misleading cannabis products to anyone who walks through the door. Despite the best efforts of law enforcement, these businesses continue to put Virginians, especially our children, at risk from unsafe cannabis products.
Supporters of cannabis legalization often argue that other harmful substances, like tobacco or alcohol, are already legal, but they fail to recognize the lingering effects of secondhand marijuana smoke, which can impair the cognitive and physical functions of others in proximity. The greatest impact of secondhand marijuana smoke has been on our young people in school. Educators across the commonwealth have shared with me that students are increasingly showing up to school under the influence — not necessarily from using marijuana themselves but from second-hand exposure in their homes or communities. Retail marijuana access would make it even harder for our schools to create a safe and productive environment for students.
All things considered, the commonwealth faces a harsh reality: we are not equipped to enforce cannabis regulations effectively. If we cannot manage or enforce the existing gray market, how do we expect to properly regulate a fully legal retail cannabis market? It is clear that any efforts to legalize recreational cannabis will only further burden our enforcement agencies while also endangering public health in the process.
While the tax revenue generated from the retail sale of cannabis products might appear to be an incentive for the commonwealth, we must recognize the hidden societal costs that come with it. The long-term effects on mental health and the strain this will place on our enforcement agencies far outweigh any perceived progress or state tax revenue benefits. Tax revenue should never come at the expense of public safety or the well-being of our youth. Our goal as legislators should be to protect public health and safety — not to profit from a harmful substance.
Legalizing retail cannabis is a step in the wrong direction and is not the trade-off we should be willing to make. It’s not about being against progress; it’s about making the right choices for our future.
H/T: cardinalnews.org
You can view the whole article at this link No, we should not legalize retail sales of cannabis
