Mark Small

Epidemiological studies: inconclusive re: whether pot use causes increase risk of accidents Sewell, et al, “The Effect of Cannabis Compared with Alcohol on Driving, Am J. Addict. 2009; 18(3): p. 185. 10/21

Pot never proven to have “gateway effect.” Janet E. Joy, et al., "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base," Div. of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research, Institute of Medicine (Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999). 11/21

Second, there are very real harms that result from marijuana being illegal to possess, use, or market. 12/21

Costs of enforcement of the laws are significant ... 13/21

Laws racially discriminate: despite studies showing black and white people use marijuana at the same rates, black people are approximately four times as likely to be arrested for either misdemeanor or felony marijuana possession,... 14/21

& enforcement of marijuana poss'n laws creates crippling backlog at state agency tasked w/analyzing forensic evidence in all crim cases, including viol crimes. Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice & Southern Poverty Law Ctr , “Alabama’s War on Marijuana,” 10/18/18. 15/21

Organized crime profits greatly when pot illegal According to one study when state on the Mexican border legalised medical use, violent crime fell by 13% on average. The Guardian, “Legal marijuana cuts violence says US study, as medical-use laws see crime fall,” 01/14/18. 16/21

Think of the prohibition of marijuana and the prohibition of alcohol. Then think how many times you read about turf wars between gangs, like they occurred in Chicago in the 1920s, over alcohol. And when was the last time you heard anyone buy moonshine? 17/21