Drug Free Jackson (formerly known as the Jackson County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition) passed a resolution opposing the legalization of marijuana for recreational and/or general use in Jackson County communities. The resolution focuses on the health and societal risks associated with the legalization of marijuana for general use.
Emma Sigman, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist and Most Teens Don’t Coordinator, notes the importance of this resolution. “Especially concerning is the impact legalization of recreational marijuana could have on youth use rates. Research in states where marijuana has been legalized recreationally has shown a direct correlation between the legalization of marijuana and an increase in youth use rates. In addition, youth marijuana use can result in lowered academic achievement as well as a lowered likelihood to graduate from high school and maintain employment later in life.”
And these are not the only consequences of marijuana use, says Richard Thoune, Health Officer for the Jackson County Health Department. “The adverse health effects that correlate with marijuana use include a number of cancers and cardiovascular effects. There are also adverse neurological, cognitive and mental health effects associated with use, including psychotic symptoms in adolescent and young adults, impaired learning in adolescents, impaired memory, hallucinations, paranoia, delusional beliefs and schizophrenia.”
Sarah Allison, Coordinator of Drug Free Jackson notes that health related risks are not the only consequences of legalization. “There are also societal and economic implications associated with marijuana legalization. States where marijuana is legal have seen increases in marijuana hospitalizations, drugged driving incidents, arrest rates and criminal activity as well as a decrease in property value”, Allison states.
Drug Free Jackson is working with Healthy and Productive Michigan, The Michigan Prevention Association, and Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) to educate the citizens of Jackson County on the dangers of consuming marijuana for general use.
The image in this article courtesy of drugfreejackson.com. Tune into our local and state newscasts, anytime day or night, for this story and more.
Follow WLEN-FM: 
#wlenradio #wlennews #lenaweenews