Steven Malanga joins Seth Barron to discuss expanding efforts to legalize recreational marijuana use, a movement helped along by extensive misinformation about the drug’s supposed health benefits.

This year, at least eight states are debating laws that would permit recreational pot. Marijuana advocates claim that the drug is therapeutic and that legalizing it will end the unjust imprisonment of casual users, especially in minority communities. But as Malanga writes in City Journal, “Even as the legalization push gains momentum, scientific journals report mounting evidence of the drug’s harmful psychological effects and social consequences.”

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There are 4 comments.

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  1. Texmoor Coolidge
    Texmoor
    @Texmoor

    I’m glad to hear there is more pushback to the legalization movement.

    • #1
  2. Yankee Coolidge
    Yankee
    @HowardCohen

    Legalization is a big mistake.  Particularly for people in their teens who are chronic users will pay by losing focus, memory, and initiative.  We do not need to have a new generation of those who are “space out” on genetically modified dope.  This is a big mistake. 

    • #2
  3. colleenb Member
    colleenb
    @colleenb

    Great podcast and investigation.  I’m almost ok w/ decriminalization but even that I worry about.  Certainly legalization and regulation has been touted as lots of money for government, nothing bad for society, its all good.  And yes, what about the marijuana smoke.  Why isn’t that as bad – if not worse – than regular smoking?  I realize that marijuana can be ingested in other ways but I’m sure there’s still a fair amount of smoking.  More from Mr. Malanga please.

    • #3
  4. Ralphie Inactive
    Ralphie
    @Ralphie

    I can attest to the proliferation of pot places in lower income/struggling communities here in Michigan.  The common justification by local politicians is that it will bring jobs and money to public coffers.  In the meantime, it becomes less attractive to the type of businesses you need to move in.  Close to me in Michigan, Bangor Township and Kawkawlin have pot shops all over, Midland (rich Dow Chemical based area) does not.  Pinconning (most of the towns up the US 23 Lake Huron coastline are struggling) is in the process of building a multi-million dollar pot facility just off I-75.  There is a very naive group of voters that even if they don’t like it think once it is legal, the problems with it will go away, we’ll get tax money, etc. as Steve has said.  I think the big guys will push out the small guys and we will still have police problems.

    Something else I can’t remember if Steve commented on is the huge rise in commercial property prices in the locations that approve of it.  One building was listed for 85,000 a couple years ago. A pot investor bought it, got the licenses and resold it for 600,000.  

    • #4
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