On the EDge: Anti-Prop 2 hysteria based on fear and lies

October 15, 2018 Utah Channel 3

OPINION — When the governor announced a so-called compromise to Proposition 2, one of the things both sides promised was a rollback in campaign advertising.

It has not held, particularly from those opposed to the proposition who continue with fallacious attacks, which I’ve seen repeatedly while here in Southern Utah.

The anti-Prop 2 commercial making the rounds on television could not be further from the truth.

According to the breathy rhetoric, if the ballot measure passes, you can count on pot shops on every corner. People would be walking around with 200 cannabis joints in their pocket. Cannabis would be made available to all on a recreational basis. Kids would be targeted for sales. Your neighbors would be growing weed just over the backyard fence and we’d all be going to hell in a handbasket.

The producers of that commercial are banking on the fact that people are either too lazy or stupid to do their own research or that they take the advice of religious leaders or politicians intent on imposing their personal will and uninformed opinions on all of us.

If you have any doubts, please read the measure.

It clearly states that cannabis production facilities and dispensaries may not be located within 600 feet of a school, church, library, playground, park or within 300 feet of an area zoned exclusively for residential use.

Sales will only be authorized to those older than 18, or with the approval of a parent or guardian, with a doctor’s recommendation. Your kids won’t be able to walk into a dispensary and score pot. Packaging and labeling must comply with strict safety standards and may not be designed to entice children.

The person who owns the production facility or dispensary must go through criminal background checks, must make their facility available for inspections and may not do what would be considered extensive or enticing advertising.

According to the measure, one dispensary would be allowed per 150,000 population area. If you live more than 100 miles from a dispensary, you would be allowed to grow up to six plants for personal use. The governor’s compromise would reduce the number of dispensaries, meaning more people would live farther than 100 miles from a dispensary, meaning more homegrown cannabis.

The product itself must undergo extensive testing for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content – the principal psychoactive chemical in cannabis. While the THC found in today’s cannabis is, indeed, higher than it was decades ago, there is still no level that can cause death. Not many substances, including Tylenol, can make that claim.

It would also be tested for pesticides as our food is.

The so-called compromise measure the governor proposed would cut back the number of qualifying illnesses that would be eligible for cannabis treatment, particularly autoimmune diseases, of which there are more than 100, including ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, lupus, lyme disease, Meniere’s disease, myasthenia gravis, peripheral neuropathy, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and many, many others that are the source of chronic pain and distress.

Patients would be allowed up to two ounces of cannabis over a 14-day period.

There is, and rightfully so, concern about the use of cannabis by young people

It’s true that there is evidence that cannabis can have a negative effect on the development of young brains, which is why its use would be restricted to adults or would only be prescribed to minors with parental or guardian approval.

There is also, rightfully so, concern about addiction. Although there is no evidence of cannabis causing physical addiction – such as what can occur with alcohol, tobacco or opioid use – a psychological dependence can develop in some people. Of course, you can also develop a dependence on chocolate, coffee or greasy fast food burgers and fries.

There are far more dangerous and deadly medications that we don’t think twice about prescribing. I don’t recall any of those having to go through legislative or ballot measure hurdles.

But, they don’t have the cultural or religious stigma attached to them like cannabis.

It’s been called a “gateway drug” to other, more potent and dangerous substances. That, however, is like warning that kissing leads to pregnancy. I’m not sure, but I would imagine that a kiss was involved in almost all activities resulting in pregnancies.

If your religion forbids the use of any type of intoxicant, then I pity you if you need surgery, have a condition that causes pain or you require some sort of mental or physical relief because I don’t know of any prescription pain med or psychotropic medication that does not have the potential to create euphoria, even when taken exactly as directed.

The most important thing to remember?

If somebody wants to use cannabis, they will.

The current penalties are not going to curb usage and, quite frankly, law enforcement has higher priorities than to bust somebody for smoking pot.

I read a line recently that quoted a former Obama administration official as saying: “The reckless way that we are legalizing marijuana so far is mind-boggling from a public-health perspective. The issue now is that we have lobbyists, special interests, and people whose motivation is to make money that are writing all of these laws and taking control of the conversation.”

First of all, the path to legalization, whether for medicinal or recreational purposes, has not been reckless. Far from it, in fact. Laws would remain in place and the cops would still be concerned with shutting down the neighborhood dealer.

The stinging part of that quote, however, is the business about lobbyists and special interests.

While that is true and an ugly fact of life, I cannot wonder why similar charges are not leveled at the gun lobby, alcohol lobby, tobacco lobby and, of course, Big Pharma, which have all taken lives and caused grief because Congress, quite frankly, is in their pockets, whether Democrat or Republican.

It’s how business is done today, it’s how decisions are made, it’s how our leaders cling to their powerful positions.

Prop 2 is a grassroots ballot initiative.

We live in a place where state’s rights are vigorously defended, where we claim that the will of the people must be respected.

We’ll see how that plays out.

A new Deseret News poll shows 64 percent support for Proposition 2, 33 percent opposition and only three percent unsure of how they will vote on the measure.

That’s a very healthy margin for the opposition to overcome, which is, perhaps, why the latest commercials are intentionally deceiving, preying upon fear.

You really should read this proposition before voting.

There is no need to worry about dispensaries pandering to children.

There is no need to worry that the dangers of cannabis outweigh the dangers of opioids that can kill.

There is no need to worry about a so-called “pot shop” opening up next door.

Most of all, there is no need to worry about cannabis coming to a vending machine near you.

It is just not going to happen.

No bad days!

Ed Kociela is an opinion columnist for St. George News. The opinions stated in this article are his own and may not be representative of St. George News.

Email: edkociela.mx@gmail.com

Twitter: @STGnews, @EdKociela