In 2001, Colorado State USA started a gradual legalization of dagga which began with the medicinal use of dagga and ended with the legalization of the recreational use of cannabis in January 2014. The negative effects of the state’s decision to legalize this drug have been shocking to say the least!
• Hospital visits for possible cannabis exposures in children 9 years and older increased by 86 %.
• Hospital visits for children 9 years and younger increased 5-fold (500%).
• Casualty visits increased by more than 3-fold (300%).
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) panel set up to review the health effects of dagga (ironically only after the legalization of the drug it seems), has warned citizens about the dangers of using the drug during pregnancy, while driving and during adolescence and young adulthood. “We found substantial evidence that adolescent and young adult marijuana users are more likely than non-users to use and be addicted to illicit drugs in adulthood.” They also found that maternal use during pregnancy was associated with negative effects on exposed offspring, “Including decreased academic ability, cognitive function and attention.” Some effects may not appear until adolescence. Use by teens is associated with decreased school performance and memory impairments that last as long as 28 days after use.
Adult use of dagga in Colorado is now higher than the rest of the USA according to two surveys included in the report. The report also found preliminary evidence to suggest that legalization in the state has resulted in increased hospitalizations, emergency room visitsand poison centre calls possibly related to dagga use. This proves to demonstrate a principal which was well researched by the American Society of Addictive Medicine (ASAM): The so called money from taxation that the state of Colorado has obtained from legal sales of dagga, will be far outweighed by the expenses incurred by the medical and criminal justice systems involved.
It is clear that the legalization of dagga in this state was a mistake. Should we as South Africans should not rather learn from the mistakes of others, rather than sticking our fingers into the same fire of cannabis legalization, only to have them burnt as well?
Follow the link belowe to read the report:
The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment Report
