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