The archdiocese of Denver released a pastoral letter Friday condemning the spreading use of recreational marijuana, expressing “concern for the salvation of souls.” A marijuana industry leader called the letter “disappointing” and “out of touch.”
The letter, written by Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, “highlights challenges of broad acceptance of recreational pot.”
“I write to you out of pastoral concern for the salvation of souls,” the letter says. “I am convinced of the need to address the impact marijuana use is having on individuals, families, and society in general.”
With the legalization of marijuana, Aquila says, the cultural acceptance of drug use, specifically fentanyl, has grown.
Aquila argues that drugs are a “dangerous response to a lack of purpose and love” due to their ability to give instant gratification in the form of a pleasure simulation.
In his letter, Aquila cites the CDC, claiming that people using marijuana are more likely to develop temporary psychosis and long-lasting mental disorders, including schizophrenia.
The letter in its entirety can be read on the Archdiocese of Denver’s website.
Truman Bradley, the executive director of the Marijuana Industry Group, called the letter “disappointing” and “out of touch.”
It is clear that an overwhelming majority of Americans disagree with the archdiocese on legal cannabis, Bradley told the Denver Gazette, citing a Gallup poll, which used a random sample of 1,009 adults, showing that 70% of American adults believe marijuana should be legal.
Aquila cited the same poll, saying he hopes to help Catholics “intelligently dialogue” with that 70% of Americans.
Bradley also critiqued Aquila’s connection of marijuana to fentanyl, saying his claim is not backed by science and, actually, numerous studies from the Journal of American Medicine Association and other publications show marijuana linked to a reduction in opioid use.
Regardless of how people feel about marijuana, however, the case for legal marijuana can be backed by the “disaster” of prohibition, Bradley said.
“Prohibition was an unmitigated disaster for everyone except private prison owners,” Bradley said. “On the other hand, regulation in Colorado and elsewhere has been a public safety success.”
Data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shows youth use remaining flat throughout the years, even after legalization.
“Thanks to regulation, patients and consumers now have access to cannabis that is tracked, tested and sold only in child resistant containers,” Bradley said.
Colorado legalized marijuana for adults over age 21 in November 2012 with Amendment 64.
Cannabis sales in Colorado skyrocketed in the beginning of 2022, a trend that began at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, however, sales have declined.
Experts and industry insiders pointed to several factors contributing to the decline in cannabis sales, including a shift in consumer behavior, more states legally permitting its use and less disposable income as a result of inflationary pressures.
In 2022, the state of Colorado collected $325 million in cannabis tax revenue, a nearly $100 million decline from 2021, which produced $423 million in taxes. In 2020, that number was $387 million.
“The wonderful thing about America is that everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” Bradley said. “The archdiocese may long for the old days but very few other Coloradans do.”
H/T: denvergazette.com
