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State Representative Jim Buchy
Make a New
Years Resolution-Stop Smokeable Medical Marijuana
Just hours after Ohioans soundly stood up against marijuana by
rejecting state Issue 3 in November, some public officials began
discussing various ways of addressing the issue of medical marijuana in
the future. I have made clear my opposition to recreational use
of marijuana, and I do not think any form of smokeable marijuana should
be permitted. But I do think it is important that legislators have an
in-depth discussion about the drug’s effects before making any
long-term decisions.
Over the past four years, the Ohio legislature has been fighting drug
addiction and the damage drug exposure has done in our local
communities. That is why it was so important that Ohioans stand
up against recreational marijuana legalization. We cannot afford
the societal toll for unlimited and unrestrained access to
marijuana. That’s why I am making a New Year’s resolution to stop
the movement for easy access to drugs and highly intoxicating
substances.
This New Year I will be working to stop access to smokeable medical
marijuana. It is difficult to determine the outcomes of smoking
medical marijuana due to strict federal laws that make it hard to
obtain legal marijuana for studies. Many states with legalized
smokeable medical marijuana do not have high instances of prescriptions
from doctors. For instance, in Colorado a survey of doctors shows that
only 31% of doctors have ever recommended marijuana for patients.
When examining instances of crime in states with legalized smokeable
medical marijuana compared to the national average, the FBI reports
that there are more instances of burglary, larceny-theft, forcible rape
and violent crimes. Smokeable medical marijuana brings with it problems
that are very similar to the societal problems associated with
recreational marijuana.
We still have to consider the positive health impacts of the cannabis
plant when separated from THC, which is the component of the plant that
causes the “high.” New technology will allow safe products to
eventually come to the market through your neighborhood pharmacy.
Pursuing these pharmaceutical products may be beneficial to public
health and we should improve Ohio laws, as needed, for this
purpose. Considering the drug problems our communities
face, we should be learning more about these alternatives and focusing
on solutions that do not allow more drugs in the streets.
As I’ve stated before, I believe that legalizing marijuana that is
still green and smokeable for medical consumption is a bad idea.
Smokeable marijuana may fuel the black market and inflame Ohio’s very
real drug problems.
I have made it a resolution this new year to stop the movement for easy
access to drugs and highly intoxicating substances. You can learn more
about my New Year’s resolution and join the effort by visiting
tinyurl.com/buchystandingstrong
Please give me your opinion on this topic and others in the news this
month by completing an online survey at tinyurl.com/buchyjanuary2016
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