Perhaps we\u2019ve reached the pinnacle of lunacy. There\u2019s 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\u2019t these solid pillars for perfect ruination of our island communities? Whatever happened to common decency or traditional values?<\/p>\n
Through the years, I\u2019ve seen MJ users puff it up. Gradually, they shift to a stronger drug known here as \u201cice\u201d 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\u2019ve also seen violence and heinous crimes committed under the influence of meth.<\/p>\n
Graduation for completing education is outstanding. But graduating from MJ to \u201cmeth\u201d 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!<\/p>\n
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:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is contrary to federal law, which prohibits the \u2018production, distribution and possession\u2019 of marijuana nationwide.\u201d Nowhere would the initiative trump federal law.<\/p>\n
\u201cLegalization 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe RCTCA addresses neither the practical problems of implementation nor the fact that federal law prohibits marijuana production, distribution, and possession.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarijuana 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cPolicies 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite claims to the contrary, the social costs of legalizing marijuana for revenue purposes will dwarf the meager taxes raised.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moreover, wouldn\u2019t 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?<\/p>\n
The study further states, \u201cThe 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\u2019s immune system to fight off some infections.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cFurther, prolonged use of marijuana may cause cognitive degradation and is \u2018associated 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.\u2019 Unlike alcohol, marijuana has been shown to have a residual effect on cognitive ability that persists beyond the period of intoxication.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording 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\u2019s body for days or even weeks after consumption. Research has shown that marijuana consumption may also cause \u2018psychotic symptoms.\u2019 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.\u201d
\nFinally, let\u2019s retain \u201cMariana Islands\u201d than chance it with \u201cMarijuana Islands.\u201d Let\u2019s stick to traditional values and keep our spiritual wellbeing fully anchored. It\u2019s the only sure way to keep these isles adhering resolutely to \u201cOur Way of Life\u201d in tranquility over casino and marijuana.<\/p>\n
Best Sunshine\u2019s fate<\/strong><\/p>\n The cat is out of the bag, so to speak, on Best Sunshine\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s hope it dons the holster of gravitas or integrity to leadership in dealing with the matter.\u00a0 It\u2019s all about integrity to guard the island community from being infested and overrun by organized crime, isn\u2019t it? Let\u2019s do the thing right by doing it right!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Perhaps we\u2019ve reached the pinnacle of lunacy. There\u2019s now a petition to legalize marijuana. Combine…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[331,163,44,492],"class_list":["post-35553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion","tag-attack","tag-kids","tag-study","tag-test"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35553","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35553"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35553\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35553"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35553"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}