A front-page story in the March 6th edition of the Herald-Standard revealed that Pennsylvania’s Auditor General, Eugene DePasquale has announced his determination to see marijuana legalized in our state. He mentioned that there is no stopping the current national wave of its acceptance and is concerned that Pennsylvania not be left behind in the reaping of the benefits of legalization. DePasquale claims that potential tax revenue on the drug will approach 200 million dollars per year.
Really? Is this what we need added to the already bloated ranks of Pennsylvania alcoholics and heroin addicts…another trouble-laden, “weed” addicted, and potential welfare-dependent class of needy citizens? I wonder at the logic or morality of “increasing tax revenue” by something that will bring so much misery, addiction, family break-ups, auto accidents, and physical and mental debilitation of our youth. Don’t we have enough of these already? Moreover, the expenditures to treat the victims and the collateral program expenses will most likely dwarf any tax revenue.
Proponents of marijuana constantly cite certain questionable research that seems to indicate that marijuana may be relatively harmless. But this conclusion is both unfair and is a clear exaggeration. Much of this research was preliminary or non-conclusive or was done by those who had a bias for the drug. Closer to the truth is the fact that we are just now beginning to learn the long-term effect of this gateway drug. There are numerous studies that suggest that we do not yet know what potential harm may be wrought on cognitive learning, retention of information, reasoning capability, and so forth.
There is ample indication that marijuana may not be the “better than alcohol” recreational drug that it is often heralded. There are multiple articles on Web MD which refute this claim. Among these are: “Pot addiction may be real, study suggests” and “Heavy Pot use can cause physical dependence.” Another site, www.drugaddictiontreatment.com posts an article on “Marijuana Addiction.” Also, “The New York Times” has an archived story, “Marijuana has proven to be a gateway drug.” The “Connecticut Post” newspaper recently carried an article entitled “Yale Study: Marijuana may really be gateway drug.”
Regardless of how many questionable pro-marijuana studies that may be cited by proponents for recreational marijuana, of one thing I am certain. As a pastor who has spent over four decades trying to keep families intact, I know what both alcohol and drugs [including marijuana] are capable for either creating or aggravating family dysfunction. Twice in my ministry I have had funerals for those who were killed in auto “accidents” by drug impaired drivers. I know personally what alcohol and drugs have done and can do to a family….what these have done to my family.
On a personal note, I spent nearly three years in the military during the Viet Nam era and I know what these substances nearly did to me. In 1967 and while a patient at Walter Reed hospital, Christ in his grace and mercy saved me and no medical personnel needed to convince me that my old habits of substance usage were unhealthy neither were they pleasing to God. I very soon discarded them. This, I believe, was the work of the Holy Spirit. So please do not weary me with the alleged “benefits” of the recreational use of “wacky weed.”
But all said, I predict that within the next few years that legislation for the recreational use of marijuana will be a “done deal.” After all, in my life-time our presumed “Christian nation” has removed from schools all prayer and bible reading and any reference to the Ten Commandments. It is illegal to teach our children that God is the Creator of all things. But it is mandated that evolution be taught as an indisputable truth. Many of our colleges and universities refuse to allow any Christian voice or open debate on traditional morality. Tens of thousands of babies are murdered each year by way of abortion and often with funds provided by our government to organizations such as Planned Parenthood.
What I am getting at is that I don’t think the legalization of recreational marijuana is going to be considered a big deal here in a state and nation that has mostly forgotten God. WEN
Image Source: Google clip art