[christine J Toft]

Originally Posted by MandoMan

I haven’t used marijuana since I was sixteen, but I was planning to vote for the legalization amendment so others could easily use it. But then I discovered that the amendment DOES NOT allow you to grow a plant or two in your back yard. You have BUY it at high prices from a licensed shop, and what they sell is far stronger than than the low quality leaves I used to share (one joint among four or five high school students). They are only in it for the money. If you have an ounce or two at home or in your car and can’t prove you bought it legally, you will still be arrested as an illegal distributor. A lot of what is sold in stores costs as much as illegal pills or powders. People can easily spend several hundred dollars a month on marijuana products. It all helps make the poor and unemployed poorer. It harms their families who may really need that money. Maybe they decide to burgle your car so they can buy some. How do you pay high rent when you are also spending hundreds of dollars a month getting legally high?

Last week I read a long article from a reputable source on the problems of legalization. Research in the wake of legalization in many states has allowed doctors doing research to learn a lot more about long term side effects than was known before. For example, a huge percentage of heavy users begin having trouble with nausea and vomiting that makes it hard to work and leads them to ERs. In many cases, that medical care is paid for by Medicaid or health insurance—your tax dollars being spent as some companies make billions and the state makes billions in taxes.

Marijuana chronic use affects brain chemistry more than was originally realized, especially when it is strong. This can cause paranoia, anxiety, depression, as well as relieve them. It depends on the person.

You know that even though it will be legal only for people twenty-one or older, this will increase availability for teens. Even more will eat a THC-laced gummy and float through school days. How is that good for America?

After reading that article, I decided that it would be immoral for me to vote YES on the amendment, so I voted NO and mailed in my ballot. If you love America, I urge you to do the same. If you want America to be strong, that doesn’t come from being high all day.

And how many who oppose it are throwing down cocktails like water! People say "you can't sue if there's a problem". Well, those that are using now certainly can't sue the man on the street they buy from. I believe this will prevent deaths. Maybe we need to address the sale of alcohol again???? Kids use it. No denying it. Kids vape.... I prefer to have our law enforcement dealing with real issues.