What Can We Learn from the UK Reclassification of Marijuana?
From 2004 to 2009, the Labour government in the UK reclassified marijuana into a lower level of legal penalties. If we looked at the result of this action, could we possibly predict what might happen in the US as a result of increasing medical and recreational use of this drug?
- According to a recent report from the Daily Mail, there was a 25% increase in the use of this drug and a sharp increase in crime.
- Researchers at Newcastle University found that occasional use of marijuana increased 25% and regular consumption increased 8%.
That’s not the only indicator that marijuana use is likely to increase in the US as penalties are lowered.
- A survey done of US high school students showed that among the students who had used marijuana at least once, 65% would be more likely to use pot if penalties were eliminated.
- Among teenaged heavy users, 78% said they would be more likely to use it.
- Even among those teens who had never used marijuana, 16% said they would be more likely to use the drug.
These various indicators mean that parents who want to raise sober kids would be very smart to pay close attention to their children’s opinions about marijuana. It is important that parents know more than their children about this drug and be able to explain the risks to body, mind, and spirit from use.
You can learn about marijuana on the Narconon International website. An entire package of information has been compiled for you on the health risks of marijuana. A person planning to use this drug should know that there is the definite possibility of addiction, loss of mental capacity, and damage to one’s health up to and including the occasional death linked directly to the drug use. You can find this information here:
http://www.narconon.org/drug-abuse/marijuana/health-risk.html
Our goal is to help young people grow up drug-free so they have the very best chance of success in life. You can find information on our website on the drugs they might encounter. When you can answer their questions about drugs before they try them, you increase the chance that they will be able to grow up sober.
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