Editor’s Note: Marijuana has become a hot topic among East Texans as multiple states across the nation voted on legalizing the drug for recreational and medical purposes on election day, which was just weeks ago. The issue soon become a topic of discussion in the newsroom as we each gave our two cents on the matter. So, we decided to take the debate to the streets of East Texas. Over the next few weeks we will be talking with those who are in support of legalizing marijuana and those who want to keep it illegal. As Texans, it is not something that was on our ballot this year, but without a doubt it will be in the future. It is now the time to become educated on the issues and decide what your stance will be. Please email us to voice your opinion on the matter at info@texasforestcountryliving.com.
We sat down with Nacogdoches resident Jared Cates, a marijuana reform activist and a founding member of Nac NORML, to discuss his opinion on marijuana and why he supports legalizing it.
Keep reading for the experiences Jared had to come to his conclusions on the debate of marijuana.
TFCL: Tell me about yourself.
Jared: My name is Jared Cates. I am a 33-year-old father, motorcycle technician, and marijuana reform activist.
TFCL: What is your opinion on marijuana?
Jared: The worst thing about marijuana is the consequences of getting caught with it. Period.
TFCL: What is Nac NORML?
Jared: Nac NORML is the local chapter for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. We work with state representatives to bring positive change to Texas’ outdated marijuana laws.
TFCL: How did you get involved with Nac NORML?
Jared: I helped found the local chapter in the spring of 2014 to give our community a local voice in the fight for marijuana reform.
TFCL: Why did you join?
Jared: I became active with marijuana reform because I cannot stand idly by and watch people suffer unnecessarily from the prohibition of marijuana. Many people see the hypocrisy and the harmful nature of our current drug laws but do not stand up and take action to change them. I was one of those people until my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. At that point, there was enough evidence to support marijuana use as a way to minimize the harmful effects of chemo and radiation, and some studies suggested that marijuana may even be a more effective treatment for cancer, itself. It was at this point that I became more vocal in my support for meaningful marijuana reform.
TFCL: Why do you think marijuana should be legalized?
Jared: The reasons for marijuana prohibition in the 1930s were strictly based on racism against African Americans and Latinos. Nixon’s acceleration of the “war on drugs” was an effort to further marginalize African Americans and “hippies.” The truth of the matter is that marijuana prohibition has cost taxpayers trillions of dollars and ruined countless lives, and despite the incredible investment we, as a nation, have made on the war on drugs, marijuana use remains at the same levels. It has also been repeatedly proven to have significant medicinal benefits. At some point we must ask the question, “What is the justification of maintaining marijuana prohibition?”
TFCL: Have you had personal experience to help you come to that realization?
Jared: The first time I tried marijuana, I knew that what we had been told about this plant was a lie. From there, many thousands of studies have proved that marijuana has many medicinal properties and is, in fact, safer than alcohol and tobacco for recreational use. To this day, the most damaging effect marijuana has had on my life was being arrested at 18-years-old for misdemeanor possession.
TFCL: What would you say to someone who provides the argument that legalizing marijuana is just a ploy to get kids to smoke it?
Jared: I would say that that is an incredibly ignorant statement with absolutely no basis in fact or logic. In fact, in states where marijuana use is legal, teen use has dropped significantly because legal dispensaries check IDs. If folks really cared about the safety of children, they would ensure that marijuana production and sales are regulated by the state.
TFCL: Do you feel like there are any cons to legalizing it?
Jared: We do not have a simple test, like a breathalyzer, to determine if someone is driving under the influence of marijuana. THC, the psychoactive chemical compound in marijuana, can stay in your system for weeks after using. Therefore folks could be subject to arrest and conviction of DWI without actually being intoxicated at all.
TFCL: Is there anything else you would like to add to the discussion?
Jared: In states like Colorado, we have seen many positive results from the legal sale and distribution of marijuana. As I stated earlier, teen use is down. Drug overdoses from harmful opiates have also dropped by a significant 25 percent. Many veterans with PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder) and other injuries have benefited greatly from its therapeutic qualities. Children who were having hundreds of seizures a day now live happy and healthy lives, free from harmful pharmaceuticals. Police departments, jails, and the court system are no longer bogged down arresting, housing, processing, and trying cases against non violent offenders, allowing them to focus on violent crimes and criminals. Tax revenue from the legal sale of marijuana has been incredibly beneficial, as well.
For more information on Nac NORML, visit nacnorml.com.
Part 2 in our discussion of legalizing marijuana will feature Kevin Sabet, head of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM). He served in the White House as the Obama Administration’s Senior Advisor at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
We interviewed Kevin to learn more about his stance on the debate of marijuana and to learn more about SAM. Check back Saturday to read our discussion with Kevin.
