Political funds from Washington, DC give extraordinary amounts of money to push agendas, especially for marijuana. Marijuana industry activists and lobbyists are pushing once again for legalization in four states – Arizona, New Jersey, Montana and North Dakota.   It’s an anti-science policy.  How funny that socialist politicians like Bernie Sanders and AOC support the most capitalistic of policies, without understanding the irony.

Corporate interests are funding the ballots in New Jersey and Arizona with an overwhelming amount of money, according to Ballotpedia.  Marijuana companies donated around $5 million to legalize in Arizona.  Scotts Miracle-Gro gave the largest gifts to New Jersey’s legalization effort, about $800,000.  It would be strange if New Jersey legalized pot, considering the state’s favorite icon, Bruce Springsteen, never used it.

However, the biggest funding goes to a less populated state, Montana. The mysterious North Fund, a dark money source headquartered in Washington, DC, gave most of the $7 million raised to promote that ballot. The North Fund does not reveal its donors.

The other big funder in Montana is New Approach PAC, a familiar group out of Washington, DC. An offshoot of the Marijuana Policy Project, has been promoting ballots for six years. New Approach PAC donated over $1,300,000 to legalize in South Dakota and more than $1,900,000 to legalize in Montana. Legalizers are trying to get all corners of the country covered, but they haven’t come up with a plan to cover new mental health care costs.

For more go to Parents Opposed to Pot

Born-to-Run Jersey boy Bruce Springsteen still performs vigorously, after more than 50 years in music.  A few weeks ago he turned 71, and he remains trim and fit.

There’s a secret to Springsteen’s continual renewal and energy, the constant ability to write, to create, to evolve and to correct. Springsteen never used drugs, including marijuana.  When we look for reasons why some artists survive, thrive and are universally respected, Springsteen, “The Boss,” shows the advantages of staying sober.

According to long-time friend from E Street band days, Steve Van Zandt, “He’s a living example of what happens when you never do drugs your whole life. I mean, I’m sure he’s taken a drink or two a few times in his life, but he was never a drinker either.”Springsteen also didn’t follow the expected routines of school. For him, life was never easy, not at home, not in school, nor in music. Success was won with slow and steady, lots of trial and error, band changes and rearrangements.

Springsteen’s non- conformity included not taking drugs and not drinking at the bars where his bands played. He bailed out band mates who were busted for marijuana and even joked about the drug.  But in interviews and in his autobiography, Born to Run, he claims that he didn’t partake.

“I had the goods and nope, I didn’t fuck around, no drugs, no booze, girls………yeah but not if they got in the way of “the music.”   Born to Run, p. 115

“I was living the life of an aspiring musician. A circumstantial bohemian – and as I’ve mentioned, I didn’t do any drugs or drink.”  Born to Run, p. 117.

Sins of the father and family inheritance

The son of a truck driver, Springsteen gives voice to the working class.  He speaks the language of South Jersey, and liberal politics define his roots and struggles.

“Losing My Religion,” a chapter in his autobiography, refers to the time Bruce took his first drink of alcohol at age 22.  He held off on drinking until age 22, a good idea considering that his father drank too much and had violent outrages.  However, it’s not only people with alcoholism in the family who can suffer from addiction. Mental illness runs in his family, at least through his father’s side.  But its also not only those with mentally ill relatives whose minds derail from drug use.

Springsteen admits to depression for which he takes medication. Yet, he forgives the sins of his father and lets pain fuel his writing, singing and expression.  “The Boss” gives all of us an example how to pursue life with incredible passion.  He also shows us that it’s possible to be endlessly creative and poetic without the drug use.

A creed to live by

“I’d seen people mentally ruined, gone and not coming back.  I was barely holding on to myself as it was.  I couldn’t imagine introducing unknown agents into my system. I needed control and those ever-elusive boundaries.  I was afraid of myself, what I might do or what might happen to me. I’d already experienced enough personal chaos to not go in search of the unknown. Over all my years in bars an out-of-line drunk in my face was the only thing that could get me fighting mad. I’d seen my dad and that was enough. I wasn’t looking for outside stimulants to help me lose or find anything. Music was going to get me as high as I needed to go.”

How ironic if the state of New Jersey votes would vote to legalize pot this year, when the state’s most famous icon eschewed pot and all drugs.  Even though it appears that Springsteen probably won’t take stand on the ballot, voters should take inspiration from his history.

For more go to Bursting the Bubble of Marijuana Hype

Three years ago when Mark Zuckerberg traveled around the country, his biggest surprise was learning the extent of the addiction crisis.  He was genuinely concerned about the problem, realizing that he comes from a position of privilege, and that didn’t face economic loss like so many other Americans. Perhaps his awakened awareness had something to do with why he and his wife donated $500,000 to pass Measure 100 in Oregon this year, the Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment Initiative

The choice of the donation reflects a naiveté similar to the naiveté he had in 2017.  It doesn’t appear that Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan consulted treatment and addiction specialists before donating the money.  The couple’s intentions were probably good, but Measure 110 disguises its true objectives by purporting to be about helping people.

Oregon legalized marijuana in 2014.  Oregon, like Colorado, ranks in the top five states for abuse of marijuana, methamphetamine, opioids and alcohol.  It is no accident that these early legalization states have the highest rates of all substance abuse.  Our addiction epidemic is a poly-substance abuse epidemic.  Legalizing marijuana enables other drug use, because cannabinoids, including THC, follow the same pathways as opioids. In other words, the opioid and cannabinoid receptors work together.  The vast majority of people who die of overdose have multiple substances in their bodies.

Support addiction treatment, but don’t enable drugs

We support and encourage rehabilitation and treatment, but the sad truth is that there’s no guarantee of truly overcoming addiction through treatment.  Addiction often begins with a beautiful boy or girl, as Dr. DuPont explains so well.  Over and over again, our children try but falter.  It is not because drug treatment models fail and that treatment specialists don’t have good intentions. Nor is it because our children are failures. Super human fortitude is required to recover from addiction.

It’s not one time, or ten times, or a hundred times that those with substance abuse disorders must be strong; it’s a thousand times and then some more.  In the throes of addiction, drug or alcohol use is not a choice.  It is not just a matter of willpower, because the brain has been hijacked by chemicals, chemicals that essentially rewire the brain’s reward system.  Making any drugs easier to access is lethal to a person in recovery. Decriminalizing drugs will make it easier to access drugs.

Most forms of cancer may be easier to treat and to cure than drug addiction.  It is also quite possible that decriminalizing drugs while putting money into treatment is similar to pouring cancer-causing agents into the water of a cancer treatment center.

Creating a problem to solve a problem

In order to bring down addiction, Oregon needs to work on primary drug prevention.  Measure 110 decriminalizes all drugs and therefore will make life much more difficult for those in recovery. Like marijuana legalization, it creates a problem to solve a problem.

Addiction is a health issue, and it’s a mistaken notion to think the US doesn’t treat it as such. Since 1956, the American Medical Association has used the disease model for addiction. Though approximately 1/5 of adult Americans have a substance addiction (including those in recovery), no one starts out intending to become addicted. Most Americans understand that addiction is not a moral failing, but they want all levels of government to protect its citizens.

Since the 1990s drug courts in the United States have emphasized treatment over punishment.  They’ve been a success, although the Drug Policy Alliance, which is promoting Measure 110, doesn’t like drug courts.  Drug Policy Action, the political arm of Drug Policy Alliance donated $3,915,553.43 to pass this ballot.  As we’ve said before, Drug Policy Alliance promotes drug use while trying to disguise its objectives and claim humanitarian goals.

As the son of a psychiatrist and dentist, Mark Zuckerberg had role models, drive, and the good sense to avoid substance abuse. Unlike DPA which wants to legalize all drugs, he probably has good intentions.  Unlike his fellow Facebook founders, Sean Parker and Dustin Moskovitz, he wisely chose not to contribute to Proposition 64, the most foolish ballot to ever pass by public vote in California.  (Since it passed in 2016, approximately 80% of California’s marijuana market, is in the black market. No one was in jail  for marijuana at the time of the ballot. The state only gets 1/3 of the promised tax revenue. It’s failed policy, except for those invested big corporate pot.)

From Parents Opposed to Pot

Given the data, can we strongly suggest that marijuana, especially in the high-potency forms and fast delivery systems available, is now a serious risk factor in violent acts?

All the facts and increasing potency of THC in marijuana is a RED ALERT to parents. We inform parents of the warning signs of marijuana use, so they have every opportunity to steer youth away from irreversible harm.

Thought Provoking Facts

PopPot is one of the few organizations in the U.S. exposing the connection between marijuana use and gruesome acts of mass violence. Our story Marijuana is the Common Web Between So Many Mass Killers gained national attention when it was quoted in this New York Post article: The Link Between Marijuana and Mass Shootings May Be Closer Than We Think. Since coroners don’t always test for marijuana in cases of violent crimes, we do not know the true statistics on marijuana and violence. Yet, in many news articles about crimes, we often find a mention of marijuana. In our recent article, Violence and Crime, we write about several high profile cases that prove this point.

What Does the Research Show?

On May 27, 2020, The American Journal of Psychiatry published a meta-analysis of 30 studies of marijuana and violence which found an association between cannabis and physical violence in young adults less than 30 years of age. They reported, “These results demonstrate a moderate association between cannabis use and physical violence, which remained significant regardless of study design and adjustment for confounding factors (i.e., socioeconomic factors, other substance use)”. The analysis concluded, “Cannabis use in this population is a risk factor for violence.”.

Researchers also found marijuana to be a significant contributor to intimate partner violence, even after controlling for alcohol use, antisocial personality symptoms and relationship satisfaction.

A report from the U.S. Secret Service also lists marijuana as a risk factor for violence:

“SUBSTANCE USE: About half of the attackers (n = 15, 54%) had a history of illicit drug use and/or substance abuse. This abuse, which included alcohol and marijuana, was evidenced by such factors as the attacker receiving treatment for the abuse, suffering legal consequences, or having significant problems in their personal lives stemming from the abuse.” – The Mass Attack in Public Spaces- 2017 Report

The International Journal of Environmental and Public Health presents cases of violence involving marijuana:

“Here, we present 14 cases of violence with chronic marijuana users that highlight reoccurring consequences of: marijuana induced paranoia (exaggerated, unfounded distrust) and marijuana induced psychosis (radical personality change, loss of contact with reality).” – Review of Cases on Marijuana and Violence

News Reports about Marijuana and Violence

The evidence shows that we can decrease the risk of violent events if we decrease marijuana and other drug use.  Marijuana legalization is a disastrous failure because of uncontrolled access to recreational and medical marijuana and no warnings or medical oversight.  The effects of marijuana on the brain resulting in subsequent violence in a growing number of people is a disturbing trend. As a nation, we need to discourage marijuana use, not promote it.

In Does Teen Pot Use Increase Violence?, we detail a number of high profile cases where marijuana use was a factor. Some of the most horrific cases are of multiple fatalities in a family setting, detailed in Orange County Murders Horrify Friends and Neighbors.

Another way marijuana and violence are linked is through drug deals gone bad. Here is a recent story of 2 young adults arrested for a shooting after a drug deal.

Take Action

This Think Ya Know? email presents a new video, scientific research and news stories about the connection between violence and cannabis drug use. Please share it with anyone who needs to know the truth.

Parents, sit with your children and come up with escape plans so your children don’t find themselves stranded in situations where marijuana is being used. This is a great way to impress upon them that you are concerned and want to protect them. Visit Parent Movement 2.0 website for great advice and strategies that can help you do this.

If you or someone you know is struggling with violent outbursts, especially from marijuana use (Cannabis-Induced Psychosis), please seek help immediately. If you feel like you are in immediate danger, call 911. If not, contact your doctor or an addiction/mental health specialist in your area.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.  Also visit the online treatment locators.

Other Resources for Parents

Every living room coffee table needs to have Alex Berenson’s book, Tell Your Children —The Truth about Marijuana, Mental Illness and Violence. Displayed prominently, it will encourage your curious teen to wonder about the worst outcomes that await the unsuspecting drug user.

In her book, “From Monsters to Miracles,” author Anette Edens, PhD, offers solutions for families dealing with adolescent substance abuse.

Attacker Smoked Cannabis blog and now a new book by UK journalist Ross Grainger. He follows news stories in the UK and Ireland where cannabis was influential on the perpertrator of a violent crime.

Another UK drug prevention activist Mary Brett offers How to Spot the Signs of youth drug use.

Join PopPot!

You can build community with others who have been harmed by marijuana, and empower youth to not be pressured to use it.

Join us October 1-3 in Washington DC for our Voices of Truth rally
in support of those families dealing with tragedies caused by marijuana.

For more information, please visit our sites, poppot.org and voicesoftruthrally.com.