Reverend Michael P. Orsi
Religious believers (especially pastors) are called to help people maintain their physical and mental well-being, as well as their moral and spiritual health. This is the ethical imperative of health care. This includes alerting people to threats and taking action to prevent dangers from building up.
Our political leaders share this responsibility. Those who represent us are responsible for both maintaining good civic order and creating conditions conducive to public health. It is their duty to their constituents and (whether they recognize it or not) also to God.
There are some areas of concern where politicians are clearly failing. One is the legalization, and consequent proliferation, of marijuana.
Pot shops have sprung up from sea to sea. Cannabis, weed, hemp, reefer, Mary Jane – call it what you want – is now a huge, legal and well-funded industry.
A recent call by the president for the release of those incarcerated for marijuana use sparked a 30% rise in stock prices of companies involved in the trade.
Marijuana is big business.
Despite such acceptance, marijuana remains a dangerous drug that undermines both good civic order and public health. It decreases the ability to control emotions, leading to inappropriate and antisocial behavior. It’s a known cause of crime and violence, as well as car accidents and other mishaps.
It is also deeply self-destructive. Marijuana users commit suicide at three times the rate of the general population. And marijuana is commonly recognized as a “gateway drug”, leading to the use of other more potent and addictive substances. Research suggests that it even increases alcohol consumption.
A proposal to legalize pottery shops is expected to come before the Collier County Board of Commissioners early next year. This is unfortunate, because even the public debate about legal sales will draw more attention to the drug, making it a common topic of conversation. This will reinforce the false impression that open availability is a legitimate public policy option.
If the measure were to pass, the aggressive advertising that will inevitably follow can only amplify the message that marijuana is fine.
It’s not good.
The harmful effects of marijuana have been known for a long time. But neither believers nor their political representatives have presented an argument for its removal that is strong enough to counter the attractions of relaxation or pleasure or freedom from the cares of life that are touted by its proponents.
On the contrary, they more often anticipate the tax money that will be earned by its sale. The widespread hope of a revenue windfall is benefiting business interests (and their lobbyists) pushing for legalization across Florida. We rarely hear about the corresponding costs of the additional police and medical services that will be required.
There is evidence of certain beneficial effects of cannabis, mainly by promoting the tolerance of certain anti-cancer drugs. “Medical marijuana” was approved in 2016.
But if marijuana does have a legitimate medical application, that’s no argument for open sales, even through so-called marijuana “dispensaries.” Marijuana or its chemical extracts can be dispensed by pharmacists under proper prescribing controls and HIPAA restrictions.
Legalization is an extremely reckless policy. We must insist that our county commissioners approach this proposal with the utmost caution.
They need only look at the consequences of unlimited marijuana sales in cities like San Francisco, Denver and others that have gone legal. Increased crime, increased traffic hazard, increased disease, increased homelessness and begging – these and other deteriorated civic conditions are all too evident.
Marijuana is both a threat and a danger. We do not want the quality of life in Collier County to deteriorate.
A priest of the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, the Reverend Michael P. Orsi currently serves as parochial vicar at St. Agnes Parish in Naples. He is the host of “Action for Life TV”, a weekly television series devoted to pro-life issues, and his writings appear in numerous online publications and journals. His TV show episodes can be viewed online at: youtube.com/channel/UCyFbaLqUwPi08aHtlIR9R0g
#Marijuana #legalization #extremely #reckless #policy