- April 30, 2024
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When Saturday Night Live was funny, the news segment commented on the suspension of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps for testing positive for cannabis. “If someone has a weed problem, the last thing you do is give them time off with nothing to do.”
Comedian Ron White was arrested when his plane was searched, and they found one gram of marijuana. He asked his audience, “Do you know how small that amount is? One gram means that I’m out of weed!”
For decades, there has been a lighthearted attitude toward cannabis, even within the law enforcement community. Its distinctive odor provided numerous investigative opportunities and some entertaining encounters.
Voices for decriminalizing drug use, possession, sale and delivery, and trafficking claim the War on Drugs is a failed racist policy that caused the mass incarceration of political prisoners. How can you say that during a period where the greatest risk factor of death for otherwise healthy (and young) people is drug overdoses?
We are approaching a grim total where the annual number of overdose deaths is more than double the American military death toll during the entire Vietnam War.
It's no secret that cannabis is linked to psychosis. Numerous studies published by the National Institutes of Health make the connection. A Yale study says the same. Marijuana and paranoid schizophrenia mix like fire and gasoline.
The Daily Mail references a study finding that high potency cannabis is driving suicide in American young people: “Cannabis may be driving a rising number of Americans to the brink of suicide, a study suggests. Researchers who analyzed national poison center data found that the number of people who had marijuana in their system when they tried to kill themselves has risen 17 percent every year since 2009.”
Also: “Exactly half of the adults with both depression and a cannabis use disorder — defined as problematic cannabis use — were revealed to have suicidal thoughts.”
Amendment 3 is hitting the ballot to legalize recreational cannabis. The current process to get an issue in front of voters is so tough that there were millions of dollars spent just to get it this far. This isn’t a grassroots movement. It is a financial blunt force attack on our legislative process by the for-profit cannabis industry. It’s a move that will cost lives and make our streets less safe.
Roland Clee of Flagler Beach served a major Florida police department as a community service officer for more than 26 years. His career included uniformed patrol, training, media relations, intelligence, criminal investigations and chief’s staff. He writes the American Peace Officer newsletter, speaks at public safety, recruiting and leadership conferences and helps local governments and public safety agencies through his business, Command Staff Consulting.
