Destruction: Casino and MJ

Perhaps we’ve reached the pinnacle of lunacy. There’s now a petition to legalize marijuana. Combine this with the conspiracy behind the casino law and you get a glimpse of the future of these isles. Aren’t these solid pillars for perfect ruination of our island communities? Whatever happened to common decency or traditional values?

Through the years, I’ve seen MJ users puff it up. Gradually, they shift to a stronger drug known here as “ice” or methamphetamine. Credible studies have confirmed that MJ is the launching pad for heavier drugs. When the transition takes its seat, it contributes to family disintegration because users forcibly spend almost every penny to meet the urge of a heavier habit. In the process, we’ve also seen violence and heinous crimes committed under the influence of meth.

Graduation for completing education is outstanding. But graduating from MJ to “meth” and violent crimes must be slammed at all cost. If I may reiterate, it starts with marijuana. This asinine proposal must be stopped right here and now!

Here are reasons why we must stop the marijuana proposal based on a highly credible study prepared by Charles Stimson, Senior Legal Fellow at the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at Heritage Foundation and a professor of law:

“It is contrary to federal law, which prohibits the ‘production, distribution and possession’ of marijuana nationwide.” Nowhere would the initiative trump federal law.

“Legalization of marijuana is bad public policy because the drug is addictive and significantly impairs bodily and mental functions; its use is associated with memory loss, cancer, and birth defects, among other conditions.

“The RCTCA addresses neither the practical problems of implementation nor the fact that federal law prohibits marijuana production, distribution, and possession.

“Marijuana is not at all like alcohol. Consumption of alcohol carries few health risks and even offers some significant benefits. Consumption of marijuana impairs the immune system and short-term memory, elevates the risk of heart attack, and causes respiratory and brain damage.

“Policies aimed at legalizing marijuana will result in a myriad of unintended but predictable consequences, including increased usage by minors, additional drug trafficking by criminal syndicates, and an increase in crime.

“Despite claims to the contrary, the social costs of legalizing marijuana for revenue purposes will dwarf the meager taxes raised.”

Moreover, wouldn’t decriminalization, especially if combined with taxation, expand market opportunities for drug kingpins? Would local zoning law deal with where MJ could be grown to ensure it is kept away from children? Would you allow your kids to ride the school buses when the driver is working the pedals high on the drug?

The study further states, “The effects of regular marijuana consumption are quite different. For example, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (a division of the National Institutes of Health) has released studies showing that long-term marijuana consumption impairs the ability of T-cells in the lung’s immune system to fight off some infections.

“These studies have also found that marijuana consumption impairs short-term memory, making it difficult to learn and retain information or perform complex tasks; slows reaction time and impairs motor coordination; increases heart rate by 20 percent to 100 percent, thus elevating the risk of heart attack; and alters moods, resulting in artificial euphoria, calmness, or (in high doses) anxiety or paranoia. And it gets worse: Marijuana has toxic properties that can result in birth defects, pain, respiratory system damage, brain damage, and stroke.

“Further, prolonged use of marijuana may cause cognitive degradation and is ‘associated with lower test scores and lower educational attainment because during periods of intoxication the drug affects the ability to learn and process information, thus influencing attention, concentration, and short-term memory.’ Unlike alcohol, marijuana has been shown to have a residual effect on cognitive ability that persists beyond the period of intoxication.

“According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, whereas alcohol is broken down relatively quickly in the human body, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active chemical in marijuana) is stored in organs and fatty tissues, allowing it to remain in a user’s body for days or even weeks after consumption. Research has shown that marijuana consumption may also cause ‘psychotic symptoms.’ To ensure the issue turns dead fish in the water instantly, appropriate federal agencies must probe advocates to soundly inform them that such an initiative is contrary to federal law.”
Finally, let’s retain “Mariana Islands” than chance it with “Marijuana Islands.” Let’s stick to traditional values and keep our spiritual wellbeing fully anchored. It’s the only sure way to keep these isles adhering resolutely to “Our Way of Life” in tranquility over casino and marijuana.

Best Sunshine’s fate

The cat is out of the bag, so to speak, on Best Sunshine’s pending investigation into its suitability to conduct business here. The newly formed investigative team ought to focus on whether the firm is associated in any form or fashion with organized crime.

Definitely, the entire community is anxious to see how the Lottery Commission disposes of this issue upon receipt of report from the impending probe. Let’s hope it dons the holster of gravitas or integrity to leadership in dealing with the matter.  It’s all about integrity to guard the island community from being infested and overrun by organized crime, isn’t it? Let’s do the thing right by doing it right!