By: Engr. Edgar Mana-ay
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, USA – In view of the snowballing move in the Philippine Congress to legalize marijuana for medical use ONLY, we should learn from the experience of the State of Colorado, USA, which legalized marijuana first for MEDICAL use only in November 2000 by constitutional amendment that was favored by 55% of the voters (quite a slim majority).
In the year 2012, voters approved Amendment 64 making it legal to grow, consume, and sell cannabis (a legal and botanical term for marijuana) for RECREATIONAL purposes. Since then, Colorado has more than 550 medical marijuana dispensaries (drug stores in our language) and more than 450 recreational retail stores in operations throughout the state. These are easily identified by a large GREEN CROSS, 5-foot high, and boldly painted on the outside walls.
Shall the Philippines follow the footstep of a quite conservative (although governance is controlled by a liberal Democratic party) and deeply religious state in the US as we ponder among ourselves whether to legalize marijuana for medical purposes ONLY?
So far, what was the Colorado experience for almost 19 years now when marijuana was legal for medical and recreational use? Legalizing pot in Colorado is a terrible public policy. We quote here a report by the Rocky Mountain High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area entitled “The legalization of Marijuana in Colorado, Its Impact.” It paints a bleak picture of what is happening in Colorado since it legalized the possession, sale, planting and consumption of marijuana. These are:
- Majority of the DUI (Driving Under the Influence) Drug arrests were involved in marijuana and 40% of them were regular marijuana users.
- In 2012, 10.47% of Colorado youth ages 12 to 17 years were considered current marijuana users compared to 7.55% nationally. Colorado ranked 4th in the nation and was 39% higher than the national average
- Drug-related student suspensions and expulsions increased 32% from school year 2008-09 through 2012-13, the vast majority were for marijuana expulsion.
- In 2012, 26.81% of college students were considered current marijuana users compared to 18.89% nationally which ranks Colorado third in the nation and 42% above the national average.
- In 2013, 48.4% of Denver adults arrestees tested positive for marijuana, which is a 16% increase from 2008.
- From 2011 through 20l3 there was a 57% increase in marijuana-related emergency (such as high, hallucinating) room visits.
- Hospitalization related to marijuana has increased by 82% since 2002.
- In 2007, pot positive drivers represented only 7% of total traffic fatalities in Colorado but in 2012, it represented 20%.
- Among other symptoms of Colorado’s pot culture includes increased use among teens of over the counter pot-laced candies and gums, which are readily available at the green cross stores, resulting in educational problems in middle and high schools.
- A spike in over consumptions of “edibles” results in increased emergency room visits, uncontrolled (because its already legal, anyone can walk in a green cross store to purchase pot-laced candies and edibles) consumption by children and PETS results in illness and death.
The Agricultural industry is also complaining that the new and legal cannabis plantation near their fruit farms of oranges, peaches, etc. are bringing in new pests, molds and fungi because the Agriculture department has yet to come up with standard insecticides and pesticides suited for marijuana.
In 2014 to 2015, the state government realized nearly $6 million in tax revenue from the pot industry BUT the cost of increased law enforcement, drugged-driving incidents, fatal crashes, loss of productivity, and a high spike in gang-related crime bring into question the cost-benefit (CB) ratio of these dollars. This is also one of the arguments of our legislators: that by making pot legal for medical use, the government can collect taxes at the same time put strict control on marijuana usage. Considering the style of Filipinos which is worse than the Americans, this line of reasoning is wholly stupid and moronic.
This writer doesn’t need to go to Colorado to witness the ill effects of illegal drugs. Right in my town of Pavia, I can mention many exceptionally bright and athletic high school students who became crazy because of drugs (mostly marijuana because it’s cheaper than shabu) and that of course totally destroyed their future. Considering the mentality of the Filipinos of palusot and palos, I fully agree with the style of President DU30 in using an iron hand in dealing with the drug menace in our country. The proposal of Congress for pot legalization for medical use will just be used as a vehicle by the illegal drug syndicates to further spread havoc to the populace.
I also do not agree with the style of Vice Pres. Leni Robredo in dealing with the drug menace which emphasizes more on education and rehabilitation and I am glad that she has been removed as the drug czar. I do not question her sincerity but she seems ignorant on the practicality of her approach to the drug problem, Philippine style.
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance. The concentration should be on eliminating the drug syndicates and vendors, whether small time or big time because they are the source and the cause of this despicable evil. They don’t even use the drug themselves, but just want to make a fast buck at the expense of destroying the lives of the Filipino youth. They should be made to disappear forever at whatever method that is necessary and not even a crocodile’s tear will be shed.
