Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Seven Ways Pot Legalization Has Been A Disaster In Colorado

Hat tip on this one to Cully Stimson at the Daily Signal, who dove into a report from the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area to get to the truth about the social costs being wrought by this ill-conceived public policy. For those of you still making the rote, brain-dead argument that "the money spent on the War on Drugs hasn't been worth it," is this the result you wanted?

1. The majority of DUI drug arrests involve marijuana and 25 to 40 percent were marijuana alone.

2. In 2012, 10.47 percent of Colorado youth ages 12 to 17 were considered current marijuana users compared to 7.55 percent nationally. Colorado ranked fourth in the nation, and was 39 percent higher than the national average.

3. Drug-related student suspensions/expulsions increased 32 percent from school years 2008-09 through 2012-13, the vast majority were for marijuana violations.

4. In 2012, 26.81 percent of college age students were considered current marijuana users compared to 18.89 percent nationally, which ranks Colorado third in the nation and 42 percent above the national average.

5. In 2013, 48.4 percent of Denver adult arrestees tested positive for marijuana, which is a 16 percent increase from 2008.

6. From 2011 through 2013 there was a 57 percent increase in marijuana-related emergency room visits.

7. Hospitalizations related to marijuana has increased 82 percent since 2008.

More 

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Marijuana related emergency room visits"? What did people overdose on Twinkies and go into sugar coma? This is simply the 2014 version of "Reefer Madness". Guess what...total pot legalization is on its way. Get over it!

Anonymous said...

I love the lie of this post heading. Funny how none of the so called facts come from the year of legalization.

Anonymous said...

I'm with 840, and have stayed high for three days before! What a bunch of total malarky from uneducated idiots. Too bad there's no one with an education to consult on this "matter".

Anonymous said...

What's the difference Marijuana or booze?

Anonymous said...

Unintended consequences; always a problem when people don't know how to think issues through. Logic and common sense are usually not their strong suits and let's not let the facts get in the way.

oh well, they'll feel good on the road to deception and destruction.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
"Marijuana related emergency room visits"? What did people overdose on Twinkies and go into sugar coma? This is simply the 2014 version of "Reefer Madness". Guess what...total pot legalization is on its way. Get over it!

August 21, 2014 at 8:40 PM

Wow! Can I borrow your crystal ball?

Anonymous said...

That can't be a little black girl smoking pot can it?

Anonymous said...

Marijuana is causing all kinds of problems among people who do not use it.

Anonymous said...

I bet the violence has gone down quite a bit...lol

Anonymous said...

Marijuana causes people to drive very slowly and makes them overly cautious. They are paranoid.

I'm not sure how they become a danger to society?

The article doesn't make sense and is probably written by a person who has no experience with the plant.

Anonymous said...

Made up stats, and not using proper years. The DUI, and emergency room, stats are from people who were DRINKING and DRIVING, and tests also revealed pot use. The ER stats come from someone being sick, getting injured, etc and having pot in their system. Pot was not the cause in the cases, yet they're allowed to spew their nonsense.

Anonymous said...

Reefer madness! Might have worked in the 40's and 50's, but its not going to fly in the 21st century. Like "gay marriage" and "racial equality", and public smoking bans , legalization of marijuana is an issue who's time has come. The majority of the public is no longer opposed to the decriminalization or legalization of pot. Those who continue to fight pot legalization in their "war on drugs" are doomed to lose.