By Paul Waldmiller
Did you know there has been a recent Florida State-wide initiative to legalize the recreational use of marijuana?
Although the initiative to place a ballot initiative for the 2020 election, it appears that there are individuals who continue to push to legalize recreational pot use.
In 2016 through a different ballot initiative, Florida residents approved the idea of marijuana use for medical purposes. With the true and real reason behind the push for “medical” use of pot (recreational use), the ink wasn’t even dry yet when the Governor signed the bill approving of the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Since the passage of Florida Senate Bill 1726, there has been a strong push by the politically-left in Florida to legalize all marijuana use. In 2017 when CBD oil was finally approved for medical use, there was a simultaneous push in Tallahassee with our elected State representatives to also legalize marijuana for recreational use.
For the unknowing, CBD oil (Cannabinol oil) comes from the hemp plant which is not marijuana but is a “cousin” of it. Hemp on average only contains .08 percent THC, the active ingredient of the plant in which you can get high. Hemp and marijuana are used for two totally different reasons. Hemp is good for making paper and may have (no sound and scientific evidence) medical benefits; marijuana’s only “worth” is for getting high.
Scientists and professionals tell us that the long-term
consequences for marijuana use may be unknown for several factors. One reason
is because when marijuana smoking became much more popular in the 1960’s and
70’s, the average THC percentage was only between two and five
percent. Today, average THC percentages are much higher–over 20 percent.
Short term issues (where it has been legalized) show permanent brain damage in
children who use marijuana, also higher incidents of vehicle accidents,
increased numbers of mental health diagnoses/issues. Heavy use (smoking) of
marijuana as well shows links to cancer.
Perhaps “denial”, isn’t just a name of a river in Egypt after all.