YORK, Maine – A leading law enforcement analyst specializing in Colorado's recreational marijuana legalization had a sobering message for about 30 York residents at a forum Wednesday night: from his perspective, nothing good has come from legalizing pot in that state.
Kevin Wong, the lead analyst of the federal-level Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking area, was in York at the request of the York High School Wellness Program and the Choose to be Healthy Coalition. The public forum was one in a series of events planned during YHS Drug Awareness Week.
Wong presented a statistical look at the impact on Colorado since marijuana became legalized in 2013. "I'm here to tell you the facts. My job is all about the numbers," he said.
The numbers, according to Wong, indicate that youth consumption, traffic-related deaths, driving while intoxicated on drugs, emergency room visits, among others, have all increased since passage of the recreational marijuana law.
A sampling of some of the statistics he presented includes the following:
*1 in 3 juniors and seniors report using marijuana. "Teens say it's easier to obtain weed than to obtain alcohol. Does that mean it's more available in the household? On the street? You know, we hear all you have to do is text a friend and have them go to a store. Then they sell it to you for a higher price."
*Use by college students is 62 percent higher than other states.
*Marijuana-related traffic deaths increased 48
percent in the period from
2013-2015 compared to 2010-2012, while all traffic deaths increased 11 percent.
2013-2015 compared to 2010-2012, while all traffic deaths increased 11 percent.
*In 2013-2014, Colorado adults ranked No. 1 in the nation for
past-month marijuana use,
104 percent higher than the national average for the same period.
104 percent higher than the national average for the same period.
*Emergence department rates likely related to marijuana increased 49 percent in 2013-2014
compared to the years 2011-2012.
compared to the years 2011-2012.
*Neighboring
states of Oklahoma and Nebraska have sued Colorado over cross-border
impacts of legalization, particularly transportation of pot through their states. The Supreme
Court last year declined to hear the case, because the states bypassed the lower courts.
impacts of legalization, particularly transportation of pot through their states. The Supreme
Court last year declined to hear the case, because the states bypassed the lower courts.
Wong
said the law has spurred illegal transport of the drug, particularly to
East Coast states
where he said people will pay twice as much or more. He said in 2014, there were 394
interdiction seizures of marijuana, "up significantly," but likely capturing only 10 percent of all
marijuana leaving the state, he said.
where he said people will pay twice as much or more. He said in 2014, there were 394
interdiction seizures of marijuana, "up significantly," but likely capturing only 10 percent of all
marijuana leaving the state, he said.
Gina Brodsky, the
wellness counselor at York High, said at the conclusion of Wong's
remarks, "I want to give you folks a message of hope." She said in the 2015 Maine Youth
Risk Behavior Survey indicated that most YHS students "are not using substances.
remarks, "I want to give you folks a message of hope." She said in the 2015 Maine Youth
Risk Behavior Survey indicated that most YHS students "are not using substances.
"Having said that, the
perception in the community is that marijuana is not a big deal,
"which is concerning," she said. "We need to come together as a community and send a
clear message to our youth. It is not legal for teens to use marijuana. Period. That whole
rite of passage thing needs to go."
"which is concerning," she said. "We need to come together as a community and send a
clear message to our youth. It is not legal for teens to use marijuana. Period. That whole
rite of passage thing needs to go."
No comments:
Post a Comment