Marijuana legalization: many points of view

Want to learn about both sides of the marijuana legalization issues . . . and then some?  Check out CNBC's Marijuana & Money Special Report.  

Some highlights from the prevention point of view:

Using Marijuana Will Remain A Bad Career Move
"Despite the national momentum toward softening cannabis laws . . . there is little reason to believe these developments will alter the way employers view the issue . . . According to a senior HR executive . . . 'For us, the issue isn't of strict legality; it's a business issue, and drug use - including marijuana - correlates with absenteeism and performance.  Not to mention potential liabilities.  So in that sense, the legal status of marijuana is not going to affect our policies."

Marijuana Is Addictive, Destructive And Dangerous
"Since 1982, I have treated literally several thousand individuals suffering from all varieties of addiction, including marijuana dependency and abuse.  From this clinical experience, I have taken away a strong conviction that marijuana is dangerous . . . It cannot be considered as anything but an abusable and addictive drug."

Why Sports Teams Worry About Marijuana Use
"But marijuana really doesn't have any athletic enhancing benefits.  By many accounts, it inhibits performance.  It impairs memory, hurts coordination and could affect heart rates . . . NFL talent evaluators are concerned about the draft class for next week's draft because of 'the increased number of prospects who have a history of marijuana use in their background."

Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana
"Contrary to the beliefs of those who advocate the legalization of marijuana, the current, balanced, restrictive and bipartisan drug policies of the United States are working reasonably well and have contributed to reductions in the rate of marijuana use in our nation."

"The rate of current, past 30-day use of marijuana by Americans aged 12 and older in 1979 was 13.2 percent.  In 2008 that figure stood at 6.1 percent.  This 54-percent reduction in marijuana use over that 29-year period is a major public health triumph, not failure."

Legalizing Marijuana Not Worth The Cost
"Certainly some states are in dire economic straits; however, we cannot allow social and law enforcement policy to be determined simply by revenue needs.  Put plainly, marijuana was made illegal because it is harmful; citing revenue gain as a reason to legalize the drug emphasizes money over health and ignores the significant cost burden that will inevitably arise as a result."

Liquor Control Board public hearing about I-1183 Responsible Vendor Program

The Washington State Liquor Control Board (LCB) is asking for public comment regarding soon-to-expire emergency rules regarding the Responsible Vendor Program (RVP) at an April 25 public hearing.

I-1183 mandates the creation of a RVP and the LCB created one under an emergency rule which is now set to expire on May 25. So, the LCB is holding a public hearing to get input on creating permanent rules for a RVP in Washington.

This is an important opportunity to let your prevention voice be heard and weigh-in on aspects of retail alcohol sales rules that have a direct impact on preventing youth access to alcohol and other public health and safety issues in communities across Washington.

Click here for the LCB announcement. Comments can be emailed to the LCB until April 25 at rules@liq.wa.gov.

Youth substance abuse prevention advocates may ask the LCB to strengthen the RVP by:

-- banning the display of alcohol products in areas that contain products likely to be purchased by youth such as sodas, snack foods and energy drinks;

-- banning the display of youth-oriented advertising for alcohol products;

-- banning spirits sampling in stores;

-- banning self check-out of all alcohol products to preventing youth from avoiding identification checks;

-- requiring alcohol products to be placed away from doors to prevent shoplifting;

-- requiring that only employees 21 years and older be able to sell alcohol.

CDC experts advocate for strong alcohol regulations

This powerful presentation by experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explores the public health impact of excessive alcohol use (binge drinking) and evidence-based strategies to prevent it, with specific attention to the role public policies play in addressing this important public health problem.

Washington State is specifically mentioned during the Q & A session at the end of the presentation.  Experts note that with the passage of I-1183, it is estimated that there will be a 43% increase in per capita consumption of liquor.  The privatization of liquor sales is expected to increase binge drinking and associated harms, such as crime and DUI, in our state.

WASAVP letter to LCB about I-1183 rules

The WASAVP Board recently submitted a letter to the Liquor Control Board regarding the establishment of rules to meet the requirements of Initiative 1183.  In the letter, WASAVP requested that the Liquor Control Board implement policies that will mitigate harm related to increased access to liquor among youth and adults.

As you know, I-1183 eliminates state-run liquor stores and allows private businesses to apply for licenses to sell spirits.  State-run liquor stores protect the health and safety of communities by preventing excessive liquor consumption, including underage drinking.  Among the ways that state-run stores accomplish this is through a limit on hours of sale.  WASAVP requested that hours of liquor sales continue to be limited to what they currently are at state-run stores.

Another way the state-run stores protect minors is through limits on liquor advertising.  Since youth regularly visit grocery and drug stores, big box stores, and other retail establishments that will now be selling spirits, it is essential to maintain the Liquor Control Board’s policy of preventing advertising and marketing at these locations that target youth.  Specifically, WASAVP requested that new rules include:

• a ban on the display of alcohol products in areas that contain products likely to be purchased by youth such as sodas, snack foods or energy drinks.
• a ban on displays of youth-oriented advertising for alcohol products.  Such advertisements and marketing strategies include those that contain animal characters and young celebrities, glamorize alcohol use, or characterize alcohol use as an essential element in achieving popularity, social success or a fulfilling life.  
• a ban on liquor advertising that is visible on the outside of retail establishments.  
• a ban on spirits sampling in stores.

To better ensure that minors do not have access to liquor, WASAVP further recommended that rules be established that ban self check-out of all alcohol products and require that alcohol products not be placed near doors, making it more difficult for youth to avoid identification checks and to steal alcohol.

Finally, WASAVP requested that WAC 314-02-107, Section 1 (b) (ii) regarding employee training and supervision be strengthened to state that only employees over the age of 21 be able to sell alcohol.  If a vendor does not have a clerk over the age of 21 working at any given time, the check-out clerk must be well supervised, within the line-of-sight of his or her supervisor who is not a minor.