Florida NAACP goes to Pot

Substance abuse and addiction disproportionately impacts the black community. The American Psychological Association recently featured the work of Tamika C.B. Zapolski, PhD, who is an African-American psychologist with substantive knowledge and experience in the field of substance use and abuse among people of color.

“The theme of Zapolski’s research lab at Indiana University-Purdue University – Indianapolis, is on understanding the underlying mechanisms involved in substance abuse and addiction among African-Americans, with a particular focus on African-American youth. Previous studies have shown that polydrug use is very common, especially among individuals who abuse alcohol. Although limited studies are available on racial differences on polydrug use among youth, African-American youth appear to be at the highest risk for such use compared to other racial groups. Due to the sparse research examining concurrent use of alcohol and marijuana, her lab has several studies lined up to examine this relatively untouched area of research,” notes the APA. [Emphasis added]

Given this scientific information you would think that the NAACP would be against legalization of marijuana and Florida Amendment 2. You would be wrong!

NewsMax.com’s Clarence V. McKee reports:

The Florida NAACP has endorsed a November ballot initiative, “Amendment 2” that would legalize so-called “medical marijuana.”

Well, not really a big surprise.

The National NAACP and affiliates in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and California have supported decriminalization or outright legalization of marijuana for recreational or medical use. Although not mentioned by the Florida NAACP as a basis for their support of the amendment, those above and many others cite the disproportionate marijuana arrest rates of blacks as a main reason for supporting legalization.

To them, it is a civil rights issue.

This is a silly argument and compares apples to oranges.

McKee notes, “Florida, the NAACP is supporting a very flawed and misleading constitutional amendment. It and amendment sponsors are perpetrating a cruel hoax on the public and especially those who have real and serious debilitating medical problems. They are using emotion, compassion and deception as shields to hide the flaws and loopholes in a dangerous proposal.”

According to McKee:

So what are the devils in the details of this Trojan Horse that have prompted such bi-partisan opposition? To name a few:

  • Allowing so-called “caregivers” with no required medical training, expertise or background checks to dispense medical pot — as long as they are at 21;
  • Placing no restrictions on the location of so-called “medical marijuana treatment centers” — pot shops — which can be near stores, restaurants and schools;
  • Imposing NO age limit on users which allows teens to get marijuana without parental consent; and,
  • Allowing high potency marijuana to be put into food such as brownies and snacks which can be accidently ingested by children.

The Florida Department of Health estimates that this amendment will result in over 250,000  caregivers and nearly 1800 pot shops in the state. It is also dangerous for children. As the White House Drug Control Policy Office has stated:

  •  Marijuana is addictive;
  • Its use affects the developing brain;
  • It is associated with cognitive impairment; and,
  • Substance abuse in school age children has a detrimental effect on their academic achievement.

Read more at Newsmax.com.

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