As Marijuana Legalization Sweeps Country, Worrisome Trends Emerge
Marijuana use has become so prevalent and so accepted that many don’t think of it as a drug.
The Bend Bulletin:
Mainstreaming Marijuana: Pot Legalization Is Revealing Unintended Consequences
When Oregon voters debated legalizing recreational use of marijuana, proponents argued that marijuana was relatively harmless, that it differed little from other legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco. While the vast majority of individuals who use marijuana will suffer no ill effects, data from Oregon and other states that have fully legalized marijuana sales show there are real risks with marijuana use that may have not been fully appreciated. When Colorado was the first state to legalize recreational use of marijuana, Gov. John Hickenlooper called it “one of the great social experiments of the century.” But the early returns in Colorado and Oregon suggest that states could soon regret their decisions. (Hawryluk, 11/14)
Boston Globe:
Towns May Try To Block Marijuana Shops
A number of cities and towns are exploring ways to limit or even snuff out marijuana shops in their communities, less than a week after voters legalized the drug for recreational use in Massachusetts. Some local officials worry that a profusion of marijuana stores will turn quaint New England downtowns into drug havens. (Levenson, 11/15)
Health News Florida:
Medical Marijuana Passage Creates Green Rush
Florida voters' overwhelming approval of a constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana for a broad swath of patients may have spurred a green rush into the state by investors eager to cash in on what will soon be the nation's second-largest pot market. (11/14)
