Legislation Opening Minnesota to Big Marijuana Will Be A Disaster for Public Health, Safety
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 30, 2023 | Media Contact: Bob Driscoll bob@learnaboutsam.org 716-307-7406 |
WASHINGTON, DC) – Smart Approaches to Marijuana President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former drug policy advisor to the Obama, Bush and Clinton administrations, released the following statement in response to Governor Tim Walz signing legislation to legalize and commercialize marijuana in Minnesota:
“Pandering politicians have chosen to sell out their constituents in favor of the false promises of Big Marijuana. The consequences are sure to be devastating, just as they have been in other states that have tried this risky experiment. Today’s commercial marijuana products are associated with depression, suicidality, IQ loss and most recently psychosis and schizophrenia, especially for young people. Those are facts that won’t change just by normalizing a new addiction-for-profit industry. Legalization is also proving to make our roads more dangerous with more drivers under the influence of marijuana – a problem law enforcement is not prepared to address.
“While the pro-pot politicians have heralded this bill as a revenue windfall and a way to combat the illicit market, rolling out the welcome mat for commercial pot shops has repeatedly proven not to be the economic boon that’s promised. Realists would look at states like Colorado, New York and California and see that tax revenues have failed to meet the hype and the illicit market has exploded. Big Marijuana has also followed Big Tobacco’s strategy of preying on communities of color to hook users on high-potency products and create a new generation of high-frequency users. By signing this legislation, Governor Walz has put public health and safety at risk for a payday we already know won’t come,” Sabet said.
Kim Bemis, chair of the Minnesota chapter of Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action (SAM Action), also condemned the legislation and its potential long-term ramifications. “The data demonstrate the clear and serious risks associated with commercial pot and THC products. This bill turns a blind eye to all those dangers. People don’t want pot shops in their communities, and they don’t want more drugs getting into the hands of their children.”