Was Marijuana Legalization a Mistake?

Last week the New York Times Editorial Board (Left) published an opinion reversing their position on marijuana legalization.

The board wrote, “This editorial board has long supported marijuana legalization. In 2014, we published a six-part series that compared the federal marijuana ban to alcohol prohibition and argued for repeal. Much of what we wrote then holds up — but not all of it does…In our editorials, we described marijuana addiction and dependence as ‘relatively minor problems.’ Many advocates went further and claimed that marijuana was a harmless drug that might even bring net health benefits. They also said that legalization might not lead to greater use. It is now clear that many of these predictions were wrong.”

On Dec.18, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal organizations to reclassify marijuana as less dangerous.

Some voices on the left agreed with the New York Times, while others steadfastly support legalization. Several voices on the right framed the New York Times as finally admitting the risks that conservatives had been warning of all along.

In USA Today (Lean Left) the former chairman of High Times magazine said, “As the country reexamines federal cannabis restrictions, a long-overdue conversation about reform is finally underway. I welcome it. Prohibition failed. Criminalization caused real harm. And despite some recent reporting questioning health benefits, I believe cannabis has legitimate medical uses that deserve serious research and responsible access. But there is something missing from much of the celebration: an honest conversation about addiction…If federal restrictions continue to ease, policymakers should pair reform with three priorities: expand research, invest in education and treatment, and be transparent with consumers.”

Jim Geraghty (Lean Right) wrote in the National Review (Right), “We, the American public, have been on the receiving end of a bait and switch. We were told that mere decriminalization of marijuana, or use in medical prescriptions, was not enough. We were told that legalization and the development of a commercial weed industry would solve states’ budget problems, create jobs, and have no serious harmful effect on children or teens. We were assured that producers, marketers, sellers, and adult users would be responsible, know their limits, and recognize the likely consequences of their actions.”

“Instead, we’ve got a massive new industry, with plenty of lobbyists at the federal level and state level. We were assured that this new industry would be appropriately overseen and regulated by the states, but clearly that isn’t happening, and the state governments are now de facto partners in the business, collecting $25 billion in tax revenues. We can all see the harmful effects of people who can’t control their use of it and grow addicted, but . . . those frequent users are now a reliable source of tax revenue for the state.”

A Washington Post (Lean Left) columnist argued, “Meanwhile, plenty of studies documented serious harms from cannabis use. Cannabis intoxication can impair judgment, perception and coordination, and has been shown to increase motor vehicle fatalities. With longer-term use, there is a substantial risk of cannabis use disorder, which affects about 30 percent of regular users and is itself an addiction marked by cravings and withdrawal symptoms that make it difficult to give up the drug even as it disrupts work and relationships. Multiple studies have also linked regular use to higher rates of bronchitis, heart attack and stroke.”

“None of this is an argument for prohibition or criminalization. But it is a case for caution, especially as the Trump administration seeks to ease restrictions in ways that would further accelerate growth of the cannabis industry. People who choose cannabis should be clear-eyed that they aren’t using a wellness product, just as smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol aren’t health-promoting decisions. As cannabis use soars, what’s needed is far more public education that cannabis, too, is an addictive drug with real risk for harm.”

Author Alex Brenson wrote in Fox News (Right), “The runaway legalization of cannabis risked the mental health of teens and young adults, I wrote. And cannabis advocates and companies had spent a generation pretending the drug was a medicine, not a recreational intoxicant. That marketing trick encouraged its use in the most dangerous way, for conditions like anxiety and depression by people already at high risk of mental illness… it has been clear to me for years that the fight over cannabis is fundamentally cultural and medical, not legal and political. A majority of Americans now support full legalization. Most of them do not use cannabis and do not realize how dangerous it can be, particularly for young people who use heavily.”