Letter to the editor: Not your parents' pot

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s eyes were beaming at the thought of additional tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales to prop up our overpriced education system (we rank No. 8 in education spending). These facts come from Smart Approach to Marijuana:

• Marijuana has psychological effects.

• Marijuana is addictive.

• Marijuana doesn’t meet FDA standards as a medication.

• Adult legalization leads to a 25% increase in use by minors.

• Marijuana has 10 to 20 times more THC than it had in the 1970s.

• Marijuana leads to more opioid use.

• Marijuana increases car accidents and raises insurance rates.

• Marijuana does not reduce black market sales.

• For every dollar in revenue, there is $4.50 in associated costs.

• Production costs 4 to 5 times more than coal or oil production.

• Marijuana affects the brain structure and leads to increased suicides.

Like abortion, marijuana does more harm than good. How about teaching your children self-control and high standards instead?

John Ventre

Hempfield