5 Reasons to Keep Marijuana Illegal in Alabama
The train of cannabis legalization rolls on.
In 2023, we officially have 21 states that have legalized recreational marijuana, with plenty more set to move forward with legislation soon. Even here in Alabama, medical marijuana was made legal back in 2021 by Governor Ivey.
If you’re concerned about where cannabis legalization could go in Alabama, this post is for you. Today, we’ll explain five reasons to keep marijuana illegal in Alabama. Keeping marijuana use in Alabama down as much as possible should be a priority for those in charge, so keep reading and learn why.
1. Keep It Away From Children
With marijuana legal and available at dispensaries on every block, the chances of it reaching our children go way up. When teenagers and adolescents start using cannabis, they risk their futures as productive adults.
According to a national survey on drug use and health in 2019, 48 million Americans over the age of 12 had tried cannabis. If we make it legal, this number is sure to go up. Who knows what the consequences are if that happens?
2. More Side Effects
Modern sources often present marijuana as a relatively safe drug, but that’s far from the truth. There’s extensive evidence that excessive cannabis use, in younger men significantly, can trigger psychological disorders like schizophrenia and psychosis.
For other segments of the population, cannabis use can lead to depression and anxiety, which has become an epidemic in our society. Cannabis is far from harmless when you factor in the prevalence of mental illness in those that use it.
3. Potential for More Car Accidents
Driving under the influence is a significant problem in our society. According to the CDC, 32 people die every day from drunk driving. Cannabis, like alcohol, impairs judgment and motor function.
If recreational marijuana laws in Alabama go any further than they have, we’re sure to see more arrests for impaired driving and more people injured and killed by bad drivers.
4. Risks of Addiction
For individuals prone to addictive behavior, cannabis becomes a gateway drug to things like opioids. We don’t need to tell you how the opioid epidemic has destroyed American lives, and it’s well-documented.
If we reduce addiction rates and the deaths associated with rising addiction rates, we need to stop people from taking drugs. By legalizing cannabis for recreational use in Alabama, we’re making the problem worse.
5. More People Will Start Using
There are vast numbers of people that wouldn’t ever have tried cannabis because it was illegal. When you make something legal, you’re telling the public that taking part is okay.
As a result, we’re going to see many people trying cannabis that they wouldn’t have otherwise thought to.
Keep Marijuana Illegal in Alabama
Looking at the evidence, it becomes apparent that we should keep marijuana illegal in Alabama. As one of Alabama’s leading churches, we take pride in being the moral compass of our state and the people therein. If we let the cannabis issue slide without saying anything, we wouldn’t be doing our job.