Opponents to Marijuana Legalization

Transcription

1 Opponents to Marijuana Legalization There are thousands of national, state, and local organizations in the education, business, healthcare, community service, youth, counseling and treatment, and religious areas which oppose marijuana legalization, including the following: Academy of Pediatrics On January 26, 2015, the Academy of Pediatrics released a public-policy statement against marijuana use, reaffirming its opposition to legalizing marijuana. This statement cited harms to children and adolescents. Pediatrics-Reaffirms-Opposition-to-Legalizing-Marijuana-for-Recreational-or-Medical- Use.aspx#sthash.DxwKHYTH.dpuf Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry The Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) released a public statement April 15, 2014, opposing marijuana use. The statement said that AACAP (a) opposes efforts to legalize marijuana, (b) supports initiatives to increase awareness of marijuana s harmful effects on adolescents. College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists In June 22, 2015, the College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued a statement that Because of concerns regarding impaired neurodevelopment, as well as maternal and fetal exposure to the adverse effects of smoking, women who are pregnant or contemplating pregnancy should be encouraged to discontinue marijuana use. Warn-Against-Marijuana-Use-for-Pregnant-Women

2 Glaucoma Society The Glaucoma Society released a public-policy statement against marijuana in treatment of glaucoma on August 10, marijuana_glaucoma Medical Association On November 19, 2013, the Medical Association (AMA) released a public-policy statement saying, Cannabis is a dangerous drug and as such is a public health concern. meeting/2013i/i13-refcommk-annotated.pdf Society of Addiction Medicine On July 30, 2012, the Society of Addiction Medicine opposed state-ballot measures which would legalize marijuana. Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America On January 23, 2014, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America issued a statement that CADCA believes that substance abuse is a public health concern and has wide-reaching negative effects on our young people and society. So we agree with President Obama s comment that marijuana use is a bad habit, a bad idea and a waste of time. We also echo the President s sentiment that the case for marijuana legalization is overstated and will not solve the many social problems our society faces. Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana, California Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana, California (CALMca) opposes marijuana legalization. CALMca has concerns for youth, crime and safety.

3 Drug Free America Foundation The Drug Free America Foundation states that Crude marijuana is not medicine in a 2013 posting on its website. Drug Prevention Network of the Americas The Drug Prevention Network of the Americas (DPNA) on its website states that it is proud to support the United Nations (UN) Conventions on Illicit Drug Abuse. Drug Watch International Drug Watch International supports efforts to halt the legalization/decriminalization of drugs according to its 2013 mission statement. Family Council Action Committee On August 22, 2012, the Family Council Action Committee released a policy brief opposing medical marijuana. Hudson Institute On November 7, 2014, the Hudson Institute published a policy paper entitled Why We Believe Marijuana Is Dangerous, and explained its opposition to the legalization of marijuana. research/10777-why-we-believe-marijuana-is-dangerous Institute for a Drug-Free Workplace On July 26, 2014, the Institute for a Drug-Free Workplace stated in a website post that Legalizing marijuana is bad for the workplace. The impact of employee marijuana use is seen in the workplace in lower productivity, increased workplace accidents and injuries, increased absenteeism, and lower morale. This can and does seriously impact the bottom line.

4 International Association of Chiefs of Police The International Association of Chiefs of Police policy statement issued in 2012 states that the organization strongly opposes efforts to legalize marijuana. The statement added we are public safety experts who have witnessed first-hand the damage and horror that drug abuse visits on society. International Faith Based Coalition Since 2009, the International Faith Based Coalition has led the Faith Based Organizations in the fight against the legalization of Marijuana. March of Dimes The March of Dimes advocates against marijuana use during pregnancy, saying that marijuana can cause lifelong health problems for your baby. These problems include: premature birth, low birth weight, problems with brain development, and neonatal abstinence syndrome. It reposted this statement in November Mothers Against Drunk Driving On March 4, 2015, the President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) stated, For 35 years, Mothers Against Drunk Driving has been battling one of the greatest threats on our highways. Now, we are battling another... drugged driving. The statement further declared that traffic deaths have increased and some 12.6 percent of drivers had evidence of marijuana use in their systems. blog/2015/march/drugged-driving-a-growing-trend.html Black Church Initiative On April 11, 2013, the Black Church Initiative condemned the legalization of marijuana as a dangerous gateway drug. Marijuana has ravished the African- community to the point of destruction. Council on On October 30, 2010, the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) released a position statement saying NCADD is opposed to the broad availability of smoked marijuana.

5 Alcoholism and Drug Dependence 10.pdf District Attorneys Association In 2014, the Traffic Law Center, a division of the District Attorneys Association, said that Increased drug use leads to increased fatalities. The white paper cites a study which found a two-fold increased risk of vehicular accidents by drivers after smoking marijuana. Eye Institute In a December 5, 2012 statement, the Eye Institute said that even with multiple studies on marijuana in the treatment of glaucoma, none of these studies demonstrated that marijuana or any of its components could lower [intraocular pressure] as effectively as drugs already on the market. Families in Action On its website updated March 31, 2015, Families in Action (NFIA) posted a section on the dangers of marijuana, outlining the risks to employers, families, and children. NFIA helps protect children from alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke On April 7, 2015, the Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke released a paper concluding, Marijuana smoking may also be a risk factor for stroke. Marijuana decreases blood pressure and may interact with other risk factors, such as hypertension and cigarette smoking, to cause rapidly fluctuating blood pressure levels, damaging blood vessels. disorders/stroke/detail_stroke.htm

6 Narcotic Officers Associations Coalition In a statement released June 12, 2015, the Narcotic Officers Associations Coalition stated, The marijuana lobby has made the illegal drug mainstream; it should stay illegal. Sheriffs Association The Sheriffs Association released a resolution in February 2014, stating the Sheriffs Association supports efforts to reduce instances of driving while under the influence of marijuana, thereby reducing the number of motor vehicle collisions, related fatalities, and other injuries caused by such driving. Phoenix House In December 27, 2011, the President and CEO of Phoenix House released a statement stating we must remember that marijuana wreaks havoc on our youth. At Phoenix House, the drug is a problem for nearly all the teens we treat; about 76 percent of our adolescent admissions list marijuana as their primary drug of choice. Save Our Society From Drugs Save Our Society From Drugs (SOS) is an organization dedicated to stopping ballot initiatives designed to medicalize unsafe, ineffective and unapproved drugs, such as marijuana. about-us or Smart Approaches to Marijuana Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) envisions a society where marijuana policies are aligned with the scientific understanding of marijuana s harms, and the commercialization and normalization of marijuana are no more.