As “Make America Healthy Again” becomes the latest political catchphrase, it is ironic that one idea garnering support from both the left and right won’t make any of us healthier: legalizing pot.
Removing restrictions on marijuana is a rare point of agreement among President-elect Donald Trump, his Health and Human Services nominee Robert Kennedy Jr., outgoing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Nearly half of U.S. states have legalized recreational pot use, and more are expected to follow suit next year.
California was the first to decriminalize medical marijuana in 1996; Colorado and Washington state allowed recreational use in 2012. The trend has led to skyrocketing weed consumption. Nearly half of U.S. adults had ever tried cannabis as of 2021, a Gallup poll shows, compared to about a third in 1996. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that marijuana is now more commonly consumed than tobacco.
In 2022, states collected nearly $3 billion from taxes on marijuana; the Tax Foundation estimates that nationwide legalization could raise as much as $8.5 billion in annual revenue for state and local governments. Unfortunately, the enthusiasm for pot as a moneymaker is not always accompanied by education and responsible regulation for this potent drug – even though cannabis products have become stronger and their dangers are more clearly documented. Just because pot is legal doesn’t mean it won’t hurt you.
I know from personal experience the harm that marijuana can cause. Pot was still prohibited nationwide when I was first handed a joint at a concert. From ages 13 to 41, I became so hooked on getting high every night that I spent money I couldn’t afford for my fix, in denial that addiction was compromising my life. It dulled my senses and energy and wrecked my professional and personal relationships. Addicts depend on substances, not people, and I could barely connect with my spouse. Despite having several jobs, I was in debt, unable to complete work I’d struggled with for years.
H/T: www.usnews.com
