Tag Archives: Kevin Sabet

Writers respond with letters about nationwide marijuana legalization

Kevin Sabet, PhD, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, wrote about The High Price of Federal Marijuana Legalization for the Wall Street Journal on August 25, 2021. In the letter, he signaled strong objections to Senator Schumer’s Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA).

This week two important letters to the editor of the Wall Street Journal followed. Dr. Eric Voth wrote a letter published in the paper on Aug 31, followed by William Bingham’s letter on Sep. 1.

Dr. Voth’s letter:

What Proponents of Legal Marijuana Forget to Mention

There exists clear medical evidence of the harms of increasing access to weed.

     The letter supporting marijuana legalization from Paul Armentano of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (“Decriminalizing Marijuana Doesn’t Address the Problem.” Aug 27)  completely ignores the medical consequences, suffered throughout the nation, of enhancing access to marijuana.

      There exists clear medical evidence of increased psychiatric difficulties with marijuana use, including violence, psychosis, schizophrenia, manic episodes, worsening depression and suicide.  Traffic fatalities increase with marijuana law liberalization, and now there is clear evidence for increased opiate overdoses linked to enhanced marijuana availability.

     Other medical consequences such as uncontrolled vomiting episodes (Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome) and cardiac complications are becoming recognized, as marijuana becomes far more potent than the ditch-weed of 40-to-50 years ago.  This carnage underpins a huge, well-organized marijuana industry that seeks to profit on the suffering of the public, exactly as we saw with the tobacco industry.

     I hope the federal efforts to legalize marijuana will wake people up to serious consequences of marijuana will wake people up to the serious consequences of marijuana use, and states will start rolling back or, at minimum, tightening marijuana statutes.  

                                                          Eric A. Voth,

The International Academy on the

                                                                          Science and Impact of Cannabis

                                                                                                                                Fairfax, Va.

(Read our description of Dr. Voth’s organization, IASIC)

William Bingham’s letter:

No Hiding from Marijuana After Federal Legalization

       I strongly oppose legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level.  (The “High Price of Federal Marijuana Legalization” by Kevin Sabet, op-ed, Aug. 25)   It should be treated as an opiate, such as codeine, and be made available only by prescription.  Both are mind-altering addictive drugs.

        In California, where cigarette advertising is tightly restricted, I have seen attractive billboards advertising marijuana dispensaries in plain view of underage kids riding in cars.  This creates ab awkward situation, but it is perfectly legal.  And because it is legal, companies face legal difficulties in firing employees who use marijuana on the job or at lunch breaks.  Marijuana use affects job performance because it is mind- altering. 

         If difficulties arise at the state level, a family or business can always move to another state.  If marijuana is legalized at the federal level, there will be no escape. 

                                                                    William B. Bingham, Fountain Valley, Calif.

Let us think before we leap. 

Smokescreen and The Dangerous Truth about Today’s Marijuana

In January, 2014, recreational marijuana stores opened in Colorado. We formed Parents Opposed to Pot in mid-2014, “Bursting the Bubble of Marijuana Hype.” In 2014, Johnny Stack first used marijuana.  He died by suicide only 5 years later, a victim of mental illness caused by high-potency marijuana.  His mother, Laura Stack, traces how it happened in The Dangerous Truth About Today’s Marijuana.”

Laura Stack, professional speaker, author and founder of Productivity Pro, wrote the book to warn parents about today’s marijuana.   She formed the non-profit, Johnny’s Ambassadors, and started the annual “Stop Dabbing” Walk in September. Continue reading Smokescreen and The Dangerous Truth about Today’s Marijuana

HHS Data, Monitoring the Future data show troubling trends

Youth drug use increases in legalized states

State-level data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the most authoritative study on drug use conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), found significant increases in youth marijuana use in several recently legalized marijuana states versus last year.  At the same time, mental illness indicators worsened across the country while alcohol, cocaine, and tobacco use dropped, especially among young people. Continue reading HHS Data, Monitoring the Future data show troubling trends

Candidate Joe Biden sticks to the science against legalizing pot

Today, a broad, diverse group of renowned scientists, led by the first Black United States Magistrate Judge and researchers from Johns Hopkins and Harvard Medical School, sent a letter to former Vice President and current presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, commending him for his unwavering commitment to a well-reasoned approach to marijuana policy.  The former vice-president respects the science on this issue.

We suggest to Joe Biden that he not consider any vice-presidential candidate who is pro-marijuana. Senators Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren should be struck from his list because of their pro-pot stances which are at odds with his. Continue reading Candidate Joe Biden sticks to the science against legalizing pot