Why you should oppose marijuana ballot issues
To The Editor
With all of the political rhetoric in the spotlight during this election season, it is sometimes difficult to realize how blessed we are to be Arkansans and how important our choices are — not only in our selection of individuals we will choose to lead and represent us, but also in determining the ballot initiatives we choose to oppose or support.
When you go vote, there will be issues on your ballot that change our Constitution or modify our laws. Two of those issues relate to legalizing marijuana – Issue 6 and Issue 7. These issues are being advertised and marketed to you as marijuana for medical use.
Both issues 6 and 7 would legalize the use of marijuana or cannabis with little or no oversight and place our economy, our businesses, our schools, and our communities at risk. While pretending to be “medicine,” these measures would allow many things that might strike the conscious of an educated voter.
Under issues 6 and 7, employees - like school bus drivers, teachers, police officers, surgeons, truck drivers, construction workers, automobile mechanics, and all others – would be permitted to be under the influence of marijuana with a simple doctor’s note.
Both of these issues allow marijuana to be legal in ANY form — including mixed in with candy, soft drinks, and other foods that would be marketed to children and teens. Not only that, there are ZERO restrictions on advertising marijuana products. Marijuana would be much easier to obtain and abuse for our young people than alcohol or tobacco and marijuana growers would be permitted to directly advertise to our children.
Adolescent marijuana use is linked to impaired school performance and increased dropout rates. Teens who use marijuana are at significant risk of permanent cognitive impairment. One in six of those who use marijuana as teenagers become addicted. Under ballot issues 6 and 7, with a simple note from a guardian, children and teens can use marijuana.
Marijuana causes birth defects in babies, which means our society will see an increase in the number of Arkansas babies with developmental delay, disabilities, and more of our school-kids will have behavioral health issues.
While pretending to be “medicine,” legalized marijuana under ballot measures 6 & 7 would not be subject to the same scrutiny and safety protocols that real pharmaceuticals must endure. For example, a real prescription from your doctor requires instructions for use and a label with information like appropriate dosage, the strength of the medicine, and any warnings related to use of the drug. None of those requirements exist for marijuana. The marijuana obtained under these initiatives will be no different from marijuana illegally obtained from a drug dealer.
Be smart. Recognize that choices voting NO on issues 6 and 7 are NOT “against medical marijuana” nor is it against seeking solutions for our neighbors who are suffering. In fact, a vote NO protects our children, our society, our employees, and our economy. Join me in protecting our communities. Vote NO on Ballot Issues 6 and 7.
Deb Crawford El Dorado
“While pretending to be ‘medicine,’ legalized marijuana under ballot measures 6 & 7 would not be subject to the same scrutiny and safety protocols that real pharmaceuticals must endure. For example, a real prescription from your doctor requires instructions for use and a label with information like appropriate dosage, the strength of the medicine, and any warnings related to use of the drug.” — Deb Crawford