The following is a November 1 Catholic San Francisco article by Bishop William J. Justice, the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
While some may think that the impacts of the marijuana legalization are fairly benign, the evidence to the contrary is well documented and compelling. Obvious effects include an increase in impaired driving, a rise in use among youth, and the negative effect marijuana has on learning and intelligence.
However, more attention needs to be paid to the impacts Prop 64 would have on California’s large homeless and poor populations. Catholic teaching is clear that life and physical health are precious gifts that must be protected. It is also very clear that we must all work together to promote the common good. This is especially true for our poorer neighborhoods where residents have less power to protect their own interests.
Communities which already face high unemployment rates and reduced educational opportunities will see those challenges quickly increased with the legalization of marijuana.
We only need to look at Colorado, which legalized marijuana in 2014, to see why. Many cities are now looking to enact ordinances to limit the number of growers because operations have predominately been locating in low-income neighborhoods. A May article in Politico documented how well-funded marijuana operations snatch up cheap business real estate, locking out any chance of other establishments to set up shop.
And what do you think has happened to crime in those areas? One town, Pueblo, now has the highest murder rate in the nation.
As usage increases, poor communities – as well as other economic groups – will also experience more failed drug tests, missed days at work or school, and even loss of employment. Those with the financial strength to weather what is hopefully a temporary setback, will do so. Those with fewer resources have a much tougher time overcoming the financial ramification of even a temporary loss of income.
Published reports have also documented a sharp increase in the Colorado homeless populations. One region reported a 40 percent increase in their shelter population. Many jobless and homeless “marijuana migrants” have traveled from outside of the state so they can obtain marijuana at a cheaper cost and continue its use without the fear of legal repercussions. These people should be steered toward opportunities for hope and prosperity instead of making it easier to find ways to accommodate their addiction.
The threat of an increase in the need for homeless services is great enough that it has prompted Los Angeles County Supervisors to approve a ballot measure that would impose a 10 percent gross tax on all marijuana businesses to help fund the County’s homeless assistance programs.
If local governments are already anticipating an increase in homeless assistance and trying to proactively intercept the fallout of Prop 64, should we not re-examine the best course of action that would prevent the need for increased services?
This Election Day, I urge you to serve our brothers and sisters in underprivileged neighborhoods, and vote no on Proposition 64. The legalized use of recreational marijuana will create circumstances that will no doubt create economic winners and losers, but the impoverished will be some of the victims of this measure. Instead, the entrenched systemic problems that will result in poor communities will be extremely difficult to overcome.
I grew up in Colorado. I went home this summer to Boulder and was saddened by the increased number of homeless dazed and numb young people sleeping in the parks – college age and even younger. I don’t recall seeing such young people. And when I went to poorer neighborhoods in Denver, there were an abundance of pot shops. So sad.
What you are seeing, as in Amsterdam, is Marijuana-tourism which will diminish as more states come to their senses.
Pot shops in poorer neighborhoods were always in abundance black market-wise, only infinitely more dangerous.
Steve Fischer, I’ll drink to that.
. . . except for the part where the State gained revenue.
“State-gained revenue?” If marijuana is legalized– how many will now suffer serious pot-related illnesses– and death? How many will no longer be able to function in school, or on the job? How many future DOPE CRIMINAL GANG MEMBERS will America now suffer with? How many BROKEN HOMES and HOMELESSNESS now will occur?? How many pot-related ACCIDENTS, ILLNESSES, INJURIES– and DEATHS?? How many babies will suffer with BIRTH DEFECTS?? SIX MILION DIE ANNUALLY, due to TOBACCO– yet TOBACCO-RELATED ILLNESSES and DEATHS are the MOST PREVENTABLE!!
It is a SIN to take a drug— and POISON YOURSELF!!– for a so-called phony, IMMATURE, DANGEROUS kind of “recreation!” It is a FAR WORSE SIN– to GIVE or to SELL A DRUG TO SOMEONE ELSE– for so-called “recreation!” HUGE MORTAL SIN!! All drugs must be CAREFULLY PRESCRIBED BY COMPETENT PHYSICIANS, ACCORDING TO STRICT STANDARDS– FOR STRICT MEDICINAL USE, IN THE TREATMENT OF AN ILLNESS!!
You misunderstand. Am for legalization/decriminalization, but am not for the State making money off it. Don’t touch the stuff myself.
Sorry, but I have a misspelled word, on the third line in my post, above— it should read, “as other public leaders do…” This website allows very little time, to write posts!
Each year, about SIX MILLION people still die, of tobacco-related causes! Tobacco-caused illness/death– is the SINGLE LARGEST MOST PREVENTABLE ILLNESS/DEATH, ON THE PLANET!! NO DRUGS OF ANY KIND!!! KEEP KIDS SAFE!!
Marijuana is not all wonderful and safe as claimed by the proponents of legalization. Soon marijuana will be legal in all 50 states…and our country will not be better because of increased use! Satan is laughing!
I think many of our civic leaders are very irresponsible, with issues like legalizing a drug! All drugs are DAMAGING– and should NEVER be ingested! POISON!! And to say that the State will make money, off dope sales— while robbing people of their ability to pay for necessary items– is a HORROR! Plus, the State will LOSE MONEY, due to irresponsible accidents, injuries, and deaths, and lives ruined in many ways– from taking DOPE!! Americans POISONING THEMSELVES AND OTHERS on DOPE—– are POOR CITIZENS, POOR EMPLOYEES AT WORK, POOR MARRIAGE SPOUSES, AND POOR MOTHERERS AND FATHERS, TO AMERICA’S FUTURE CHILDREN!!
Marc has created a home for stoners and these wanting to be immersed in the culture.
The Catholic Church has always held that the smoking of Marijuana without a legitimate medicinal illness to be a mortal sin. Outside of medicinal use, Marijuana is a drug that impairs. Like all drugs that are misused for recreation, the Church has always taught that the use of these drugs is a mortal sin.
Asbury Fox– Before Vatican II, Catholics used to be taught that drug use is a Mortal Sin– and very few people, outside of an inner-city ghetto, perhaps– ever even heard of such a thing, as drugs!! One would sometimes read, of unstable and immoral writers, artists, and other intellectuals, trying experiments with dope, in the late nineteenth or early twentieth centuries– and often even dying, as a result of their stupidity! The Catholic Church always firmly taught, that dope use is a Mortal Sin! One rarely hears of a priest, nun, or bishop, in today’s Church, warning kids, that dope is a Mortal Sin!! Too bad the Church couldn’t do more, to get kids off of dope, and change their lives to NORMAL!!
Kids who are in the stage of adolescence, need to be guided to make a positive and successful future, and to successfully cross the bridge from adolescence to becoming a full, mature, self-confident adult– ready to fully carry out responsibilities of work, marriage, parenting and family life, and church and community service. One has the responsibility, to chose activities for recreation and relaxation, that are healthy and normal! One must have EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL MATURITY– to behave like a GROWN-UP– not like a two-year-old!! A GROWN-UP with SOCIAL and EMOTIONAL MATURITY– HAS NO INTEREST IN TOTALLY STUPID ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS ALCOHOL OR DOPE!!
Well, it looks like irresponsible Californians did vote to legalize so-called “recreational marijuana!” A sad, sad day, for all good California parents, trying to raise children, and for all in our communities, trying to help guide kids to stay away from drugs, and head for a good and successful life! Hopefully, someday America will “wake up,” and put a total end to all drug use! Catholic teaching stands forever against all drugs — a MORTAL SIN!!