OPINION:
One of the most pervasive and mishandled issues of our era is the endless quest to normalize marijuana.
Built on a throne of diabolical lies, the arguments for legalizing weed for recreational use can easily be dismantled, torn apart and exposed for what they are: utter hogwash.
And yet the declarations have somehow been effective, with Hollywood’s framing of marijuana as harmless helping prop up narratives. The result is a populace that has become worn down and deeply confused about the effects of weed on the body and society.
When Gallup first began asking about marijuana in 1969, just 12% of the public supported legalizing the drug. By 2023, that percentage had swelled to 70%, with 2013 serving as the point at which more than 50% of the nation suddenly supported legalization.
Use of the drug has also grown in recent years. While 7% of Americans said they smoked it in 2013, that share was 15% in 2023-2024, more than doubling. And the percentage of those who have reported trying the drug during their lives has increased from 4% in 1969 to 47% in 2024.
The perpetuation of lies around cannabis has helped fuel these radical escalations. Among the absurd mantras is the claim that cannabis is essentially safe. Those who espouse this view believe the Schedule I controlled substance should be permitted across America, yet a new study calls this claim into question.
Research from Wright State University, published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, revealed that people are increasingly driving vehicles under the influence of marijuana — and the effects are dire.
After studying drivers who died in fatal car crashes over the past six years, researchers found that 40% of these individuals had elevated levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in their blood. THC, the active drug in the cannabis plant, impairs coordination and has other effects on users.
These people reportedly took the drug close to the time when they drove, with experts warning that there has simply not been enough education about the dangers of doing so. This lack of knowledge and attention has had deadly ramifications.
Perhaps the constant drumbeat of inaccurate claims about pot being safe and harmless has created a false sense of security and protection.
“THC slows reaction time, clouds judgment and dulls coordination,” Dr. Laura Markley, who handles addiction issues at Akron Children, told Fox News. “And those few seconds of delay can be the difference between a near-miss and a fatal crash.”
But this shocking study is hardly the only caution percolating out there. Many experts have noted that legalizing recreational use is simply a disaster of our own making. In 2017, the American Academy of Pediatrics warned that teen marijuana consumption has a dire impact on brain development.
In a report titled “Counseling Parents and Teens About Marijuana Use in the Era of Legalization of Marijuana,” in the journal Pediatrics, the authors offered a dire assessment of cannabis use among young people.
“Marijuana is not a benign drug, especially for teens,” Dr. Seth D. Ammerman said in a statement at the time. “Their brains are still developing, and marijuana can cause abnormal and unhealthy changes.”
It’s not just young people who are at risk. Dr. Raymond Wiggins, an oral surgeon and author of “Weeding Out the Myths About Marijuana,” has extensively studied the impact of marijuana, and his findings are alarming.
“If you want to talk about psychosis, for those who start using marijuana at a young age and who use it on a regular basis, there’s a two-and-a-half times risk of psychosis,” Dr. Wiggins told me. “One study … actually showed a six times risk for those who used it regularly.”
And the dire results don’t stop there, with Dr. Wiggins explaining the other ways marijuana use affects the human brain even beyond adolescence.
“If you’re talking about depression and suicide, depression is greatly increased if you start smoking … it as a teenager,” he said. “And then, if you look at the statistics for depression, up until the age of 30, those who smoked it as a teenager are 37% more likely to be depressed in their young adult years, and even later on in life.”
Sadly, many will claim the drug not only is harmless but that it’s non-addictive, another falsity. Just consider a recent New York Post report revealing that a New York City drug-treatment facility has been overwhelmed by weed addiction since New York legalized the drug in 2021.
“It’s a gateway drug,” one addict said. “Eventually, it won’t get you high anymore, and you’re going to look for something greater. It tears families apart. I can testify to that.”
We’ve created a disaster of our own making that’s only exacerbating the pain, suffering and loneliness so many are feeling. The only question remains: When will we wake up?
Correction: A previous version of this column misstated the title of the book by Dr. Raymond Wiggins. It is “Weeding Out the Myths About Marijuana.”
• Billy Hallowell is a digital TV host and interviewer for Faithwire and CBN News and the co-host of CBN’s “Quick Start Podcast.” Mr. Hallowell is the author of four books.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.