Submitted to The Detroit News
By Jessie Schirrick
I live in Reno, Nevada and during the 2016 election, I voted to legalize recreational marijuana. I now regret my decision for reasons involving the marijuana industry itself and the careless consumers who support it. As someone who once used marijuana regularly and suffered mental health issues consequently, I want to prevent as many people as possible from suffering too.
I used marijuana frequently at one time and I rejected the possibility of marijuana use disorder. Remembering my cravings for it, my need to take it everywhere I went and the important aspects of my life that I gave up for it, I would say I suffered from marijuana addiction. I have stopped smoking, but I still suffer from anxiety and depression that wouldn’t persist if not for marijuana.
Even though laws require people to use marijuana “responsibly,” many people break them, like driving while high. Many believe marijuana doesn’t impair your driving ability. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, marijuana can slow reaction time, impair time and distance judgment and decrease coordination. Some statistics suggest it presents more dangers than alcohol. The National Institute of Drug Abuse reports drivers with THC in their blood are twice as likely to cause a fatal crash than drivers who without drugs or alcohol in their blood. Using marijuana poses more risks than drinking alcohol because it’s harder for people to measure how much they can ingest before impairment. Legalizing marijuana makes people perceive marijuana use as safe and acceptable and, therefore, feel more engaging in risky behaviors while using it.
The legalization of marijuana presents a health risk to Michigan children as many THC-laced edibles take the form of candy and appeal to children. Although laws require opaque marijuana packaging, many packages employ bright color schemes and interesting designs reminiscent of the tobacco industry’s Joe Camel. People fail to see that Big Marijuana is another industry pushing an addictive product- they want to attract young consumers so that they can make them lifetime customers.
Please heed my warning and vote no to legalizing marijuana during the Michigan Nov. 6 general election.
Jessie Schirrick 