News
Cannabis Legalization Could Have Hidden Costs
Published
3 years agoon
By
Aaron Palmer
The US Senate’s Finance Committee has released a “discussion draft” of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), which would legalize marijuana at the Federal level.
Bill Hawley, Community Prevention Specialist with the Johnson County Prevention Council, at their recent meeting, discussed the legislation and its possible effects on Wyoming and other states if it is passed due to the increased financial and human costs costs that may come with legalization.
Hawley quoted information from CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America), saying if the legislation passes it would burden states with increased law enforcement costs without providing any funding to handle them.
Also, he said the effect of marijuana on academic and professional success contributes to the “dumbing down” of our country and will hurt our competitiveness internationally.
Hawley said legalizing marijuana during this time of an unprecedented public health crisis concerning COVID-19 would be irresponsible and would bring harm to our communities in Wyoming.
Hawley asked the public to make themselves aware of the issue.
The US Senate’s Finance Committee is taking public comment on the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), both pro and con, via e-mail, and we have provided a link with this story at sheridanmedia.com.
Comments can be sent to Cannabis_Reform@finance.senate.gov
Mark Steingass
September 1, 2021 at 3:25 pm
“dumbing down of our country”…you have that right Mr Hawley….they have called it “dope” for decades as I remember
Dean Seever
September 2, 2021 at 8:50 am
Yes, there are costs to having a free society, I thought we all recognized this. It does not matter what you think of a plant, either we have a free society where you have the freedom to choose what goes in your body, or we live under an authoritarian regime. Hopefully somebody doesn’t come along and mandate that he take a vaccine that he doesn’t want, that would be awkward when he says its his body his choice…
Scott Thomas
September 2, 2021 at 1:29 pm
I think what Mr. Hawley fails to recognize is that the current laws generate (and have generated) increased law enforcement costs for decades, with no value added and a considerable negative effect on society in general. Perhaps he is also unaware that many law enforcement personnel aren’t even enforcing the law for small amounts of marijuana anymore, because they realize it is counterproductive in regard to their time and the negative effect on the individual involved.