Rocky Mountain “High” Has Brought Devastation To Colorado

I have put thousands of Americans away for tens of thousands of years for less evidence for conspiracy with less evidence than is available against Ollie North and CIA people. I personally was involved in a deep-cover case that went to the top of the drug world in three countries. The CIA killed it. —Former DEA Agent Michael Levine, CNBC-TV, October 8, 1996. Author of Deep Cover

Former DEA Agent, Michael Levine lost his son, a police officer, and his brother to drugs.  His son was murdered, and his addicted brother committed suicide.  Levine has openly stated that none of these drugs should ever be legalized.  The DEA’s Position on Marijuana is damning and the report is alarming.  Legislators considering the legalization of marijuana should read the report before they vote as their decision may have dangerous consequences in their state.

Nineteen states and Washington, D.C. have legalized medical marijuana and two more, Washington and Colorado, have legalized it for both medical and recreational use, according to this map from Governing magazine. But marijuana is not legal under federal law.

Unconstitutional Federal Laws

Let’s clarify here.  The legalization of marijuana, just like the legalization of abortion in the entire U.S. is not an enumerated power of the federal government according to the Constitution.  Neither is the criminalization of either an enumerated power of the federal government.

Government power has grown in every direction, often ignoring the very deliberate constraints of the Constitution. But, if we are to entertain the rather unfashionable traditional view of federal power, it is quickly clear that the federal government gets only “enumerated” (or specifically spelled out) powers, and the rest belong to the States and the People mainly via the Tenth Amendment.

Libertarians have long wanted all drugs legalized.  Their mantra is “hands off, don’t tell us what to do.”  But it’s all about them, not about what happens to the rest of society because of them.  Gary Johnson, the former Governor of New Mexico, was the last libertarian to run for President.  He is pro-abortion and for the legalization of drugs.

The High Cost of the “Rocky Mountain High”

At the recent Gathering of Phyllis Schlafly Eagles (PSE) in St. Louis, MO, State Director of Eagles in Arizona, Susan Ellsworth, read a report by the Co-Directors of Colorado’s PS Eagles, James and Jayne Schindler.  It was not only startling, but frightening.

Reefer, pot, Mary Jane, weed, grass, all of these terms refer to Cannabis.  Many deceptive arguments were used to promote medical and then recreational marijuana legislation in the State of Colorado in 2012.  Since then, the use of marijuana has decimated the state in numerous ways few have considered.  Most of the following information comes from the Schindler’s own research.

  • Potent Pot – Marijuana is stronger now than it was 20 years ago, causing many of the health problems we are seeing today. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration over 20 years found that the level of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, marijuana’s main psychoactive ingredient in the marijuana samples they seized, rose from about 4 percent in 1995 to about 12 percent in 2014.

Essentially, the drug cartels, who have plenty of money, are breeding new marijuana hybrid plants with higher levels of THC and other toxic and addictive chemicals in it.  This is resulting in a much stronger and much more addictive marijuana plant, even though it may look, smell and taste similar to older plants.

Conversely, the level of CBD, or cannabidiol, the ingredient sometimes touted for its potential health benefits — fell from about 0.28 percent in 2001 to less than 0.15 percent in 2014.

  • Schools – Teachers unions bought into the provision that the first $40 million of taxes collected on cannabis sales would be earmarked for construction of schools. It has yet to happen after four years of collecting millions in tax revenue.
  • Pot Usage – The number one problem in Colorado schools is pot smoking by the students. The Rand Corporation poll reported that two of every five college students are regular users, causing a dramatic increase in the drop-out rate.  Regular use has proven to lower the IQ by eight points. Link

Lunch breaks at schools find kids piling into cars, rolling up the windows and smoking pot.  Re-inhaling the trapped smoke is called “stove-piping,” resulting in a quicker and more intense high.  On their return to the classrooms, they are out-of-control, causing the teachers to be both fearful and unable to teach.

  • Adolescent Usage – There is strong evidence that pot usage by teens is destructive to the adolescent brain. Research paints a grim picture for those who start smoking before age 18.  Link
  • Lawsuits – Colorado’s border states have sued for damages caused by marijuana smokers coming across the borders and depleting their law enforcement resources to focus on other crimes.
  • Crime – Legalization has not reduced crime, as was promised. Black market pot is actually cheaper than tax subsidized marijuana.  Robberies of pot shops is now a daily occurrence as they are a cash business and not allowed to have bank accounts.  The state has become the money launderer as the tax monies can be deposited into state coffers.  It is now reported that there are more pot shops than liquor stores and lower income areas are especially targeted for same.  Crime has increased as have burglaries and robberies.

Legalization has impacted the drug cartels, so they have shifted gears and are now enjoying monetary gains from the sales of opioids, now epidemic and causing even more crime.

  • Babies Addicted – It has been reported that half of all babies admitted to the Pueblo Hospital, particularly emergency room visits, are addicted to marijuana related to their addicted mothers.
  • Alcohol Poisoning – Patients suffering from cancer treatment nausea can be given marijuana to stop the vomiting reflex with chemo treatments. But the danger here is that young people who consume alcohol along with smoking pot, also have their gag reflex suppressed, and cannot expel the excess alcohol.  They are now dying from alcohol poisoning.

Yes, people do die from smoking weed.  Link

Dr. Sam Wang of Children’s Hospital said he found that the number of kids and young adults in the emergency room for marijuana-related reasons and who subsequently needed a psychiatric evaluation also increased rapidly — from 65 in 2005 to 442 in 2014.

  • Testicular Cancer – Some blunt advice for the young, male fans of marijuana: You may want to kill that joint and clutch your crotch — self-check style, that is. A small new study adds to growing concerns that recreational marijuana use may lead to testicular cancer in young men. Link
  • Mysterious Cannabis Illness – A mysterious marijuana-related illness is popping up with increasing frequency in hospital emergency rooms, particularly in states where cannabis is now legal. The illness is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, (CHS) which is linked to heavy, long-term use of marijuana, according to experts. The symptoms are severe abdominal pain and violent vomiting.  Hot showers or baths alleviate the symptoms for a short period of time, but the only cure is to stop smoking weed. In its most severe form, the illness can lead to kidney failure — but symptoms usually stop within days of ending marijuana use.
  • Grow Houses – High humidity is a side effect of growing pot in homes, resulting in homes being destroyed with both mold and pesticides. Not only that, but the water usage is draining Colorado’s electricity and water.  The hemp farming is about to cause a water war on the western slope where peaches, cantaloupe and corn are regularly grown.
  • Government – Legalizing pot did not reduce government overreach as promised. The time taken by local, state, and county governments to now regulate and enforce the sales and distribution of taxable marijuana has been astronomical.  They’re still trying to figure out just how much pot can be consumed before an individual is considered legally impaired and cited with a Driving While Marijuana Impaired (DWMI).

The tobacco industry actually wants to start packaging joints for over-the-counter sales.  Given the rationale that tobacco smoke is bad for your health, while marijuana smoke is apparently good for you.

  • Homeless – Colorado has had a population boom, many of whom came expressly to smoke pot, not for a home or a job. They are a tremendous drain on public resources.  And get this…the politically correct police have now redefined the homeless and transient population as “travelers.”  This has created a new class of people who, according to state government, are entitled to benefits of food, housing, clothing, etc., all of course at taxpayer expense.
  • Workforce – Just how do businesses, the military, law enforcement, etc. find people who can pass a drug test? It is suggested that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, but that doesn’t hold up as pot consumption stays in the body for days whereas alcohol leaves within hours.  It has become difficult even to hire moderately qualified people.

Colorado has now collected in excess of a billion dollars in taxes from pot sales which indicates a large portion of the citizenry is high while trying to perform their normal daily functions.

Side Effects and Dangers

Don’t kid yourself, marijuana is not without side effects and dangers.  As much as weed users would like to think that weed is an entirely harmless drug, it really is not. Marijuana use has not only been significantly linked with a number of short-term psychosocial problems – including problems with school, work, family, friends and the law – but has also been linked with several longer-term medical and mental health risks.

  • Respiratory inflammatory symptoms. Link
  • Psychosis (such as schizophrenia) or earlier onset of psychosis. Link
  • Immunity suppression. Link
  • Nausea and vomiting. Link
  • Decreased testosterone in men – possibly leading to impotence, gynecomastia and decreased libido. Link
  • Increased prolactin levels in women – possibly leading to galactorrhea (or inappropriate milk secretion).
  • Periodontal (gum) disease. Link
  • Persistently red eyes secondary to chronic corneal vasodilation. Link
  • Continued cannabis use is associated with 7-fold greater odds for subsequent commission of violent crimes. Link

If you doubt anything in this article, please listen to this video from Colorado Christian University’s Centennial Institute on their presentation of marijuana’s true impact on Colorado.

Conclusion

Cannabis is still a Schedule 1 drug in the U.S., and that places significant restrictions on scientific research and investigation that can be done with the substance regarding the dangers of marijuana on the body and brain.

The medical community has sounded alarm bells over what long term usage of cannabis can do.  Physicians nationwide were shocked at the JAMA Psychiatry study wherein they were told they needed to change their mind on these issues.  Long-term smoking damages the brain’s capacity for memory and cognitive tasks, and increases the risk for the development of a number of serious health problems later in life.  Link

Please understand, I am not against the medical usage of marijuana, it really has helped many people through horrible treatments, but as Colorado residents have already realized, legalization for recreational use brings a great number of devastating problems.

If your state has a bill in their legislature to legalize this substance for recreational use, be aware that the majority of the legislators have been told it’s a safe product and should be mainstreamed.  Please clue them in to the dangers of this legalization.

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© 2018 Kelleigh Nelson – All Rights Reserved

E-Mail Kelleigh Nelson: Proverbs133@bellsouth.net