Marijuana Legalization Debate Reignited After 10 Years: Is Yes or No t…
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작성자 보스톤 작성일 26-07-24 20:01본문
The marijuana legalization repeal measure will be put to a ballot vote this November. It's expected to be an opportunity to raise new questions about the changes brought by 10 years of marijuana legalization. The photo shows a marijuana retail store called a dispensary (a name that comes from medical sales).
(Boston = Boston Korea) Reporter Jang Myung-sul = Since marijuana was legalized, the most directly felt inconvenience has been the distinctive smell wafting around at all times. It's unpleasant enough to make you frown, but it's been treated as a lifestyle nuisance similar to cigarette smoke. However, this November, Massachusetts voters will decide whether to re-ban recreational marijuana that they themselves legalized in 2016. Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin's office confirmed on the 21st that it will put the marijuana legalization repeal measure to a ballot vote in November along with eight other measures. The State Ballot Law Commission earlier reviewed challenges to the legality of signatures supporting the repeal measure and determined there was no evidence to invalidate the signatures. The recreational marijuana legalization system, which passed in 2016 with 53.7% approval, now faces a vote on whether to repeal it. But this ballot measure is not simply asking voters "do you like or dislike marijuana?" It's closer to a litmus test asking how to evaluate the changes legalization has brought over the past 10 years, its achievements, and its side effects.
Behind the return of recreational marijuana—long considered a forgotten issue—to the ballot is a nationwide legalization repeal movement. It's known that affiliated groups of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), led by Kevin Sabet, provided a significant portion of the funding needed for this ballot campaign.
Wendy Wakeman, president of the Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, the group leading this marijuana repeal effort in Massachusetts, argues that recreational marijuana legalization has caused problems including deterioration of quality of life due to increased street odor, the spread of high-potency THC products, exposure to children and adolescents, and worsening mental health. Indeed, smelling marijuana has become common in downtown Boston, Fenway, Newbury Street, various parks, and MBTA stations. While the unpleasant odor is genuinely frown-inducing, it's hard to see smell alone as a social problem serious enough to scrap the entire legalization policy.
Unexpected Side Effects
However, children's accidental ingestion of marijuana products is a serious public health problem. According to research from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), emergency room visits by children who consumed THC products in forms similar to regular snacks—such as gummies, chocolates, and candies—have increased as these products have proliferated. Emergency room visits by children under 5 increased more than fourfold, while visits by those aged 6-12 increased more than sevenfold. The main cause is children mistaking these for regular snacks and consuming them. Some mental health professionals are also concerned about the spread of high-potency THC products. Large observational studies have shown that more frequent marijuana use is associated with greater links to psychosis and schizophrenia, with particularly higher risks for those who use high-potency products daily. Research has also reported that starting use during adolescence is associated with increased risk of psychosis later. However, most of these studies show statistical associations and do not mean marijuana causes mental illness in all users.
On the other hand, no significant evidence has emerged regarding increased crime, one of the biggest concerns when legalization passed. Studies published to date have not provided consistent evidence that violent crime or street violence increased because of marijuana legalization. There is also insufficient evidence to directly link increases in homicides, robberies, and shooting incidents to legalization.
There is also no clear evidence that youth marijuana use rates have significantly increased since legalization. Children's accidental ingestion of marijuana products and increased youth usage rates need to be evaluated separately.
Achievements of Legalization
Ryan Dominguez, president of the Massachusetts Cannabis Association, characterizes this ballot measure as "an attempt to reverse the achievements Massachusetts has made over the past 10 years."
Massachusetts has seen cumulative adult-use marijuana sales exceed $9 billion since sales began in 2018, with tax revenues collected by state and local governments estimated to reach $2 billion. Related taxes are used for marijuana regulation and oversight, public health programs, community investment, and local government finances.
Since legalization, a new industrial ecosystem has formed, including cultivation facilities, manufacturers, transporters, product testing agencies, and retail stores. This has contributed significantly to the local economy and employment.
Tito Jackson, a former Boston city councilor who operates a marijuana retail store, criticized the repeal movement, saying "incorrect claims will lead to the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue and thousands of jobs."
A social equity policy was also introduced to support the entry of communities and minority residents who were disproportionately harmed by past marijuana enforcement into the industry. The argument that marijuana's risks are not necessarily greater than those of alcohol or tobacco and that adults' freedom of choice should be respected is also a pillar of the pro-legalization position.
Is Repeal the Answer?
The choice given to voters in this ballot measure is binary: maintain or repeal legalization. But the policy problems faced in reality don't divide so simply into black and white.
Voters can first ask the question: "If we repeal legalization, will the currently cited side effects actually be resolved?"
Since no clear association between legalization and increased crime has been confirmed, it's difficult to expect that repeal will reduce violent crime or street violence. On the other hand, if legal retail stores and product supply decrease, some public health problems such as children's exposure to edible products may decline.
Other side effects that could emerge after repeal must also be weighed.
The most direct impact would be the collapse of the marijuana industry built over the past 10 years and reduced tax revenue. Related businesses and workers would lose their jobs, and tax income received by local governments would likely decrease. There are also concerns that illegal distribution could expand again, spreading products with unverified ingredients or THC content to the market. Increased enforcement of marijuana possession and sales could also increase the burden on the criminal justice system, including police and courts.
Therefore, it's worth questioning whether total repeal is the only alternative to reduce the side effects of legalization. There are methods such as restricting the shapes and packaging of products that children might mistake for snacks, strengthening child-resistant packaging, and lowering the THC content per serving and in the entire product. Options also include imposing higher taxes on or restricting sales of high-potency products, and strengthening enforcement and education regarding smoking in public places. Reducing problems through refined regulation may be the way to avoid the social costs of "burning down the house to catch a bedbug."
The Voters' Choice
As stated earlier, this ballot measure is not about personal preferences for or against marijuana. It should be viewed as a question about how to evaluate a 10-year-old policy. It's closer to a choice of whether to scrap the policy or maintain it while addressing its shortcomings. Ten years ago, Massachusetts voters decided that regulation is better than prohibition. At this crossroads reached 10 years later, voters should ask themselves: "Should we reverse a system we've implemented for 10 years?" [email protected]
Behind the return of recreational marijuana—long considered a forgotten issue—to the ballot is a nationwide legalization repeal movement. It's known that affiliated groups of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), led by Kevin Sabet, provided a significant portion of the funding needed for this ballot campaign.
Wendy Wakeman, president of the Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, the group leading this marijuana repeal effort in Massachusetts, argues that recreational marijuana legalization has caused problems including deterioration of quality of life due to increased street odor, the spread of high-potency THC products, exposure to children and adolescents, and worsening mental health. Indeed, smelling marijuana has become common in downtown Boston, Fenway, Newbury Street, various parks, and MBTA stations. While the unpleasant odor is genuinely frown-inducing, it's hard to see smell alone as a social problem serious enough to scrap the entire legalization policy.
Unexpected Side Effects
However, children's accidental ingestion of marijuana products is a serious public health problem. According to research from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), emergency room visits by children who consumed THC products in forms similar to regular snacks—such as gummies, chocolates, and candies—have increased as these products have proliferated. Emergency room visits by children under 5 increased more than fourfold, while visits by those aged 6-12 increased more than sevenfold. The main cause is children mistaking these for regular snacks and consuming them. Some mental health professionals are also concerned about the spread of high-potency THC products. Large observational studies have shown that more frequent marijuana use is associated with greater links to psychosis and schizophrenia, with particularly higher risks for those who use high-potency products daily. Research has also reported that starting use during adolescence is associated with increased risk of psychosis later. However, most of these studies show statistical associations and do not mean marijuana causes mental illness in all users.
On the other hand, no significant evidence has emerged regarding increased crime, one of the biggest concerns when legalization passed. Studies published to date have not provided consistent evidence that violent crime or street violence increased because of marijuana legalization. There is also insufficient evidence to directly link increases in homicides, robberies, and shooting incidents to legalization.
There is also no clear evidence that youth marijuana use rates have significantly increased since legalization. Children's accidental ingestion of marijuana products and increased youth usage rates need to be evaluated separately.
Achievements of Legalization
Ryan Dominguez, president of the Massachusetts Cannabis Association, characterizes this ballot measure as "an attempt to reverse the achievements Massachusetts has made over the past 10 years."
Massachusetts has seen cumulative adult-use marijuana sales exceed $9 billion since sales began in 2018, with tax revenues collected by state and local governments estimated to reach $2 billion. Related taxes are used for marijuana regulation and oversight, public health programs, community investment, and local government finances.
Since legalization, a new industrial ecosystem has formed, including cultivation facilities, manufacturers, transporters, product testing agencies, and retail stores. This has contributed significantly to the local economy and employment.
Tito Jackson, a former Boston city councilor who operates a marijuana retail store, criticized the repeal movement, saying "incorrect claims will lead to the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue and thousands of jobs."
A social equity policy was also introduced to support the entry of communities and minority residents who were disproportionately harmed by past marijuana enforcement into the industry. The argument that marijuana's risks are not necessarily greater than those of alcohol or tobacco and that adults' freedom of choice should be respected is also a pillar of the pro-legalization position.
Is Repeal the Answer?
The choice given to voters in this ballot measure is binary: maintain or repeal legalization. But the policy problems faced in reality don't divide so simply into black and white.
Voters can first ask the question: "If we repeal legalization, will the currently cited side effects actually be resolved?"
Since no clear association between legalization and increased crime has been confirmed, it's difficult to expect that repeal will reduce violent crime or street violence. On the other hand, if legal retail stores and product supply decrease, some public health problems such as children's exposure to edible products may decline.
Other side effects that could emerge after repeal must also be weighed.
The most direct impact would be the collapse of the marijuana industry built over the past 10 years and reduced tax revenue. Related businesses and workers would lose their jobs, and tax income received by local governments would likely decrease. There are also concerns that illegal distribution could expand again, spreading products with unverified ingredients or THC content to the market. Increased enforcement of marijuana possession and sales could also increase the burden on the criminal justice system, including police and courts.
Therefore, it's worth questioning whether total repeal is the only alternative to reduce the side effects of legalization. There are methods such as restricting the shapes and packaging of products that children might mistake for snacks, strengthening child-resistant packaging, and lowering the THC content per serving and in the entire product. Options also include imposing higher taxes on or restricting sales of high-potency products, and strengthening enforcement and education regarding smoking in public places. Reducing problems through refined regulation may be the way to avoid the social costs of "burning down the house to catch a bedbug."
The Voters' Choice
As stated earlier, this ballot measure is not about personal preferences for or against marijuana. It should be viewed as a question about how to evaluate a 10-year-old policy. It's closer to a choice of whether to scrap the policy or maintain it while addressing its shortcomings. Ten years ago, Massachusetts voters decided that regulation is better than prohibition. At this crossroads reached 10 years later, voters should ask themselves: "Should we reverse a system we've implemented for 10 years?" [email protected]
Original Korean article: https://bostonkorea.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=news&wr_id=46304
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