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.
For almost 20 years, Author Kevin Sabet has studied, researched, written, and implemented drug policy. He has served on three presidential administrations, including Clinton, Bush, and most recently Obama, serving more than two years as the senior advisor to President Obama’s drug control director.
In 2013, he launched Smart Approaches to Marijuana, an “an alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana policy.”
We chatted with Kevin to learn more about his opinion on legalizing marijuana and to learn more about SAM.
Keep reading for the experiences Kevin had to come to his conclusions on the debate of marijuana and how you can get involved.
TFCL: What is your opinion on legalizing marijuana?
Kevin: The existing dialogue surrounding marijuana legalization centers on an impossible choice: commercialization or criminalization. That’s just not good enough. Data from states like Colorado, which already legalized recreational marijuana, points to numerous public health damages that can be directly attributed to the drug. And criminalization puts nonviolent, often young people in prison. Even when they get out, they have a criminal record, making it difficult for them to get legitimate jobs and forcing them deeper into illegal activities. Instead, I advocate for a third way. I believe that all marijuana policy should start and end with scientific data about the drug’s impact on the human body and mind. I’m a strong supporter of the continued, responsible research surrounding marijuana, and so far, that research has not proven that marijuana’s widespread, total legalization will not have serious, long term negative repercussions, especially when regulations on the commercial marijuana industry, which is undeniably driven by profit instead of health, is given so much leeway regarding retail store location and advertising.
TFCL: Tell me about Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM).
Kevin: Smart Approaches to Marijuana was created to advocate for and facilitate that third way. We want to educate people on all of the data surrounding marijuana, not just what corporate interests want people to hear. In our current social and political landscape, it’s more important than ever for the American public to make educated decisions about marijuana policy, so that we do not set ourselves on a destructive path that could have been avoided if we had thought more carefully and knowledgeably about marijuana regulation.
TFCL: How did you get involved?
Kevin: I got involved as a young junior high school student. I was appalled at how my community was in denial about drug abuse, and I latched onto a local community group that was pushing back against that norm. My experience then took me to the White House as a senior drug policy advisor. During my tenure, marijuana stood out because, although many are quick to advocate for total legalization, very little is actually known about its effects. More specifically, many people still treat marijuana like it’s the same all-natural, Woodstock weed of the baby boomer generation. In reality, it’s become entirely manufactured, and significantly more harmful. Whereas the weed of the past had less than 3 percent THC, today it’s available with up to 30 percent. At that level of potency, it can actually become very addictive, and that’s the type of product that these profit-driven industries would be allowed to market in the form of kid-friendly edibles like candies and sodas. While I’ll never demonize marijuana or its users, I also feel an enormous responsibility to take action when I see a situation, like this, that could quickly turn very, very bad.
TFCL: In your opinion why do people want to legalize marijuana?
Kevin: It comes back to that misconception about what is actually being legalized, and the answer isn’t just the stereotypical, all natural, smokeable weed of the past. In my experience, people just don’t realize that they’re also legalizing edibles and high potency THC extract in the form of hash oil, all of which could be widely advertised across all media, including television, and sold in their neighborhoods, where their families and children would have easy access. But this is not the public’s fault; this is a direct result of an incredibly well-funded industry that seeks to profit off drug use. They’ve intentionally perpetuated the misconceptions surrounding the harms of today’s marijuana, despite all the evidence to the contrary.
TFCL: What is the reality of legalizing the drug?
Kevin: Legalizing recreational marijuana has unintended consequences in both the long and short term. In Colorado, the rate of marijuana-related traffic fatalities has skyrocketed, as have marijuana-related emergency department visits. The most recent data shows that out of all traffic fatalities, one in five drivers are now testing positive for marijuana. Furthermore, current scientific studies have proven that today’s marijuana is directly linked to an increased likelihood of developing mental health conditions like anxiety, depression and even schizophrenia. But most concerning of all, marijuana specifically targets adolescent brains. After legalization, Colorado jumped to number one in the nation for underage use, and its college-age marijuana use also increased, while decreasing on a national level at the same time. A lack of regulation in areas where recreational marijuana is legal makes it just as easy, if not easier, for underage kids to get marijuana as it would be for them to get a six pack of beer, and now we know that that specific demographic is the one most vulnerable to negative health effects as a result of using the drug.
TFCL: How do you think it will affect children and teenagers?
Kevin: As mentioned above, marijuana has the most significant negative effects on developing brains, according to scientific and medical research. But more specifically, numerous studies have shown that regular marijuana use can continue to negatively impact people even after they quit, especially if used regularly during adolescence. Much like a cigarette smoker will always have a higher likelihood of developing lung disease, past marijuana users have a higher risk of developing mental health conditions later on in life.
TFCL: What is your opinion on legalizing medical marijuana?
Kevin: So far, there isn’t enough scientific data to justify support of medical marijuana, but I’m a strong advocate for medical marijuana research. There are currently medical drugs that have been derived from marijuana, and while they’re not a perfect solution, they’re a step in the right direction for the responsible use of marijuana for the benefit of the public health. Just like we do for all of our medicine, we need to put marijuana and its derivatives through FDA testing before we distribute them. If marijuana or any marijuana derivative clears those tests, thereby proving that it truly does help people, then I’m all for it. But recreational marijuana is an entirely different thing from medical marijuana. All of the ballot initiatives I’ve seen have been handcrafted for the commercial marijuana industry, not the public health.
TFCL: What do readers need to know?
Kevin: The marijuana industry is not on your side. They have proven, at every opportunity, that they are willing to trade public health for personal profit. Voters need to educate themselves on the ballot initiatives in their state, and not take for granted that the industry will forego profit by self-regulating where they are not forced to do so.
TFCL: How can people get involved in advocacy against legalizing marijuana?
Kevin: This is a game of awareness and advocacy. First, educate yourself on the reality of recreational marijuana legalization: What it would look like in your state, and what regulations, if any, are included in the initiatives. Educate your families and your communities, so that people understand what is at stake. And then, work with policymakers to ensure that the people’s voice is heard. Protect your children by rejecting unsatisfactory initiatives, and by demanding adequate regulations where necessary.
To learn more about Kevin, visit his website at kevinsabet.com. To learn more about SAM, visit learnaboutsam.org.
