Virginia Legislation Passed with Only One Republican Vote in Either Chamber Would Lead to Higher Youth Use, More Drugged Driving Deaths, and Significant Societal Costs
RICHMOND, VA) – Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former White House drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton, released the following statement in response to legislation Virginia lawmakers passed on Wednesday that would commercialize marijuana and THC drugs in Virginia:
“Against the recommendation of medical and health professionals, parents, law enforcement, and those working on the front lines of the addiction crisis, a nearly partisan group of Virginia legislators bought the marijuana industry’s lies to inject more dangerous drugs into communities across the Commonwealth. Just this week, a group of physicians and health experts sent a letter to legislators detailing the scientific consensus that commercialization is harmful for public health and for the health of young people. In every state where this industry has been allowed to flood the market with high-potency THC drug products, the consequences have been damning.
“How any legislator would trade public health and safety away for a pittance of tax revenue is beyond understanding. Medical science has demonstrated that these drugs are dangerous and tied to IQ loss, psychosis, degradation of motor skills, depression, suicide, and schizophrenia.
“Governor Youngkin must stand up to the addiction industry, put people over profits and veto this bill. Virginia is for lovers, not pot shops on every corner.”