Yesterday was the official unveiling of retail marijuana in Washington state. It opened to minimal fanfare; marijuana users tend to be pretty mellow, so to expect a frenzy on day one would’ve been silly. Early reports indicate the empire hasn’t yet crumbled…but it’s still early, and crazed potheads roaming the streets of the Evergreen State in search of empty calories is still something residents should be living in mortal fear of. Or not.
The fact is that we’re going to find out that, as happened in Colorado, legalizing marijuana is neither a threat to public safety or public morality. Government regulation means increased tax revenue, which means services that might otherwise be cut or curtailed can expect a new lease on life. It means that marijuana is finally being treated on par with alcohol. While not nearly as socially accepted, marijuana is in fact far less of a health and safety threat than alcohol. All the “Reefer Madness” fear-mongering aside, being stoned really only means being a threat to the closest snack food aisle. Violence and sexually inappropriate behavior isn’t normally associated with pot use…yet too many have far too much invested in portraying marijuana as the gateway to illicit sex and moral degradation (I wish). Crime hasn’t increased in Colorado, nor is it likely to in Washington state. In fact, marijuana has proven to be something of an economic shot in the arm in Colorado, and I suspect there’s a good chance something similar will happen in Washington state. Common sense has a way of solving problems that never really existed except in the minds of politicians and religious and community leaders invested in painting marijuana as the Devil’s weed. Right before they go home and bust open that bottle of Glenlivet.
Perhaps in time marijuana usage will be viewed as equivalent to alcohol. After all, if Dad needs a glass of scotch to unwind after work, why shouldn’t marijuana fill the same role…without the potential for cirrhosis of the liver?
