Recreational legalization is too murky

I think most people who read my column would say that I am a liberal. Most of what I write about does follow the Democrat mentality, but I think it’s important to note that we are not one-dimensional.

I have a few viewpoints that are conservative, one of them being my opposition to legalizing recreational marijuana.

I don’t say this because I think people should be in prison for simple marijuana possession or paraphernalia charges. In fact, Iowa code specifically provides lighter penalties and enhancements for marijuana charges versus other drug charges.

I also am in favor of President Trump’s executive order to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I controlled substance to Schedule III. By definition, a Schedule I controlled substance is “a drug with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

I think we all recognize marijuana has medicinal uses. Even methamphetamine is a Schedule II drug, and I’ve never heard of medicinal meth.

The biggest reason I am opposed to legalizing recreational merijuana is because there is not a simple, adequate way to measure a person’s impairment level on the drug.

With alcohol, not only are there tests that have been studied and validated to confirm impairment, there’s also a simple breath test to determine the blood alcohol content of the person.

The law is simple — keep your BAC under 0.08% if you want to drive.

With marijuana, it’s murky. Not only do states with recreational marijuana not have a specific law regarding how much you can have in your system, there’s also no good way to measure.

While urine and blood tests will show if marijuana is in the system, it could also indicate prior use in someone who is no longer impaired. Marijuana does not metabolize in the way alcohol does.

So if recreational marijuana is legal, when are you safe to drive? Missouri law, for example, sets no THC limit for what constitutes as being impaired. Legally, the definition is subjective.

I think most of us have seen someone who has had a little too much to drink but swears they are “fine.” I know my husband sees that often in his line of work.

If that’s how people are when there is a black and white definition, how would they be when there isn’t one?

There’s a lot of data out there showing that legalization increases the number of fatal car accidents and OWI arrests.

A study in Washington conducted by the American Automobile Association showed an increase in drivers of deadly crashes having marijuana in their system.

Colorado, the first state to legalize, saw a 10% increase in car accidents as the state struggled to define driving under the influence of marijuana.

While officers do have tools to determine whether a person is impaired by marijuana, it’s still a subjective ruling.

Outside of the driving realm, I’m also concerned about the impact legalized marijuana will have on our teenagers.

In 2017, NBC reported the number of teenagers sent to emergency rooms more than quadrupled in Colorado after legalization.

It’s important to recognize that the marijuana and THC products being used today are not the products of the ’70s or ’80s. Woodstock weed has nothing on the devil’s lettuce of 2026.

This also throws a wrench in the mix as many studies on the affects of marijuana were conducted on the cannabis of old.

According to the American Psychological Association, “Today’s high potency cannabis exists in unchartered scientific territory... misconceptions about marijuana, such as a lack of addictive potential, are common despite the changing products.”

In the ‘60s and ‘70s, marijuana was considered an “all natural substance,” the average THC level hovering around 1%. Now, vape pens advertise up to 90% THC. Even in weed itself, the amount averages 10-30%.

And as we are seeing with nicotine vapes, people are enticed by the idea of fun-colored and flavored products. Rather than the stink of a cigarette or joint, kids can reach for a cotton candy vape with a cute pink and blue package. It also encourages trying every flavor!

I understand not wanting Iowa money going to other states to purchase marijuana. But I prioritize keeping our teens, drivers and pedestrians safe over potential sales tax profits.