We have enough problems without adding pot

An article in the May 19 Daily Herald by state Sen.Linda Holmes stated that opponents to legal marijuana were fearmongers and that research did back not them up. In response, I would like to cite some statistics from an October 2018 report by the Colorado Department of Public Safety.

The report states that since legalization in 2014, marijuana-related hospitalizations increased by 236% and marijuana-related emergency room visits increased by 24%. In addition, auto crashes increased by 13% and marijuana-related traffic deaths increased by 151% (from 55 in 2013 to 138 in 2017).

Sen. Holmes also stated that "people who try cannabis never move onto other drugs." A report in the May 2018 issue of Preventive Medicine stated that youth with past-month marijuana use were 10 times more likely to report past-month use of other illicit drugs - including cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin and inhalants.

An American Journal of Psychiatry article also reported that marijuana may pose a greater risk to teenagers' brains than alcohol since it impacts four key cognitive areas - including long- and short-term memory as well as problem-solving skills.

Is it logical to believe that increasing the availability of marijuana through legalization will somehow magically reduce its use by young people?

This is not fearmongering. These are the facts from independent researchers. I urge all readers to learn about the long-term health dangers of marijuana use and to ask their legislators to vote against Senate Bill 7 before it is too late. Our state has enough problems. Let's not add another one.

Chester Stanley

Wauconda