Legalized Marijuana

“The first four states to legalize marijuana for recreational use were Colorado and Washington in 2014 and Alaska and Oregon in 2015. ….Last year, they had almost 620 murders and 38,000 aggravated assaults—an increase of 37 percent for murders and 25 percent for aggravated assaults, far greater than the national increase.” - Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence

“As legalization spreads, more Americans are becoming heavy users of cannabis, despite its links to violence and mental illness.”

“Even in the Netherlands, known for its freewheeling drug policies, a government committee report proposed putting cannabis with more than 15 percent THC in the heroin and LSD category.” - WORLD

Can Christians use legal weed? (in 500 words) - Cripplegate

“Delegates at the Republican Party of Texas convention on Saturday voted to approve platform planks endorsing marijuana decriminalization, medical cannabis and industrial hemp. They are also calling for a change in cannabis’s classification by the federal government.” - Forbes

The marijuana debate illustrates the fact that we cannot legislate morality effectively. Laws compete with each other, as in the case of federal and state laws regarding marijuana enforcement. Laws can be interpreted in various ways. And it is impossible for lawmakers to anticipate every potential ethical problem.

“Voters in five states — Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada — will cast ballots on Election Day for or against initiatives that will legalize the recreational use of marijuana, or cannabis as it is sometimes known. Another four states — Arkansas, Florida, Montana and North Dakota — will vote on measures to legalize medical use of marijuana.” BPNews

Carly Fiorina. Marijuana claims from GOP debate evaluated

“legalization has spawned a heightened demand for social services in southern Colorado, including an 81 percent rise in marijuana-related calls to emergency response dispatchers in 2014.” BPNews

“Overwhelming data exists about the harm this chemical causes”