Myths destroyed for you to consider!

This is for the general public to consider for the upcoming public hearings on the recent marijuana bill for medical use.  Proponents for legalization are pushing for full legalization (medical, medicinal, and recreational use) as this is an issue for all the people, not just the special interest of the sick.

Now that the marijuana bill has been introduced again but with the reality that legalization is taking place throughout America, there is a growing hope and belief that the CNMI is growing socially with an ever growing need to prosper economically for inspiration to legalize IT.  After all, there are still signs and stickers everywhere saying “We Love IT” so why not live up to the hype!  But seriously, there have been many myths about marijuana that are now being destroyed by facts and research that I want to share with readers, especially those who want to make educated comments in the upcoming Senate hearings on the legalization bill.

Myth No. 1 destroyed: That marijuana is so addictive and dangerous.  But The Washington Post has published creditable research that proves different. Headlines: “Marijuana may be even safer than previously thought, researchers say”; “New study: We should stop fighting marijuana legalization and focus on alcohol and tobacco instead”

Myth No. 2 destroyed: Marijuana’s surprising effects on athletic performance. It turns out marijuana might actually help some people perform better at certain sports.

In November, Men’s Journal interviewed elite triathlete Clifford Drusinsky, a Colorado gym owner who also leads training sessions fueled by marijuana edibles. “Marijuana relaxes me and allows me to go into a controlled, meditational place,” Drusinsky told Men’s Journal. “When I get high, I train smarter and focus on form.” Stanford Medical School professor Keith Humphreys explained that there’s a scientific explanation for this. “We have cannabinoid receptors throughout our brains, and when the THC hits those receptors, it triggers a system that reduces anxiety,” Humphreys said.

Outside Magazine correspondent Gordy Megroz wrote in the February issue of that magazine that while he has never been much of a pot smoker, he heard enough close friends—especially skiers—say that getting high helped their performance that he decided to give it a shot

Myth No. 3 destroyed: Teens will go crazy to smoke weed. I was not able to find any research proving that a large number of teens did or would go crazy using marijuana, just a few isolated incidents. But the lack of evidence is proof the vast majority of youth did not go crazy over marijuana in Colorado or Washington State. But it was reported by Christopher Ingraham in a study that: Teenagers who smoke marijuana daily are over 60 percent less likely to complete high school than those who never use. They’re also 60 percent less likely to graduate college and seven times more likely to attempt suicide.

But this study does proves we need to extend and even maximize our education efforts regardless of legalization as the mind and mentality of a teenager is not mature and equipped to deal with any mind-altering substance.  In fact, many adults even need to be educated about mind-altering substances as it is our youth who are campaigning and leading the protest against tobacco and alcohol use. So don’t worry about our youth, just keep educating them. The good part is that with pot legalization there will be more than enough funding for education on the use of marijuana and all vices. The Colorado Public School System alone got a commitment from the State Legislature of $98 million extra over time to be used only for drug education!

Myth No. 4  destroyed: Marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol. Given the CNMI is already saturated with pot smokers and that it can be found in every village, the myth that it will change our way of life is not supported by any facts or phenomenon. This is also not so much about getting high as it is about the rebuilding of our economic engine. When the garment industry left our economic engine broke down. The casino is only part of the restoration for the restarting of our economic engine, which is why legalization is needed to provide the critical parts to complete the process of restarting our engine.  Furthermore, it is really common knowledge that all usages of marijuana is the intended end results so we shouldn’t play around with it only being for medical use but for all uses (medical, medicinal, performance and social/recreational).

The myth that marijuana is bad because it is illegal:  Well, most readers are now educated enough to know that this myth is ridiculous so I won’t expand on it. But there is an update from an important person in Washington who is pushing for more research in all areas of marijuana use that can only be done if marijuana is fully legalized.

In a recent interview with CBS This Morning, Dr. Murthy, U. S. Surgeon General, said: “My position is we have to see what the science tells us about the efficacy of marijuana. We have preliminary data showing that for certain medical conditions and symptoms that marijuana can be helpful, so I think we have to use that data to drive policymaking, and I’m very interested to where that data takes us.” (CBS News)

P.S.: Please get educated on marijuana and attend the upcoming public hearings to show your support for legalization. You don’t have to say anything, just come and show support, our leaders will get the message.  This new industry is a serious issue you should not brush off as it offers hundreds of high paying jobs with cultivators becoming millionaires over time, hundreds of millions in revenues for our government and widespread prosperity for businesses and a better quality of life for the average citizen of the CNMI that will surely include some form of subsidies for CHC and to help with the ever growing CUC bills.

Ambrose M. Bennett
Kagman, Saipan